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NEW YORK, July 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Close to 30 years after creating widely-acclaimed vocal arrangements of music for the 1995 multi-Tony Award-nominated, Grammy Award-winning Broadway musical revue "Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller," theater veteran Chapman Roberts is the plaintiff in a David-and-Goliath lawsuit, charging that he is not been credited or compensated for subsequent stagings of the musical, that continues to wow audiences with the vocal arrangements he skillfully crafted for the 1995 show.
The Broadway show features Roberts' vocal arrangements of Leiber and Stoller's rock and roll and R&B hits — such as "Jailhouse Rock," and the Elvis Presley version of "Hound Dog;" the popular, bluesy version of "On Broadway;" the catchy novelty tunes "Love Potion #9," "Poison Ivy," "Yakety Yak" and "Charlie Brown;" and the 1961 soul classic "Stand by Me," that the songwriting duo crafted with singer Ben E. King.
The Goliath defendants in the lawsuit are theater and entertainment industry behemoths — including the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization, Broadway HD, Amazon Digital Services LLC, and SONY/ATV Music Publishing.
In the New York State Supreme Court, the lawsuit is Case # 2021-03250. And in United States District Court-Southern District of New York, the case is under Index No.: 1:19-cv-09200-KPF-RWL.
Roberts, 80, is claiming copyright infringement, and seeking credit and compensation for subsequent productions of Smokey Joe's Café using his popular, original 1995 Broadway vocal arrangements of the Jerome Leiber and Michael Stoller classics.
According to Roberts, the musical - using his vocal arrangements - has been replicated, restaged, and even live streamed over two decades, without crediting or compensating him.
"I become more acutely aware of the scope of the saga and its historic ramifications. This is a precedent- setting case seeped in the reparations furor that has been brewing in this country and globally for decades," said Roberts, referring to the many instances of Black artists and performers not getting credit or compensation for their creations.
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SOURCE Chapman Roberts | 2022-07-11T14:40:10+00:00 | newschannel10.com | https://www.newschannel10.com/prnewswire/2022/07/11/black-award-winning-vocal-arrangers-lawsuits-battle-behemoths-broadway-theater-win-credit-compensation-his-work-smokey-joes-caf-musical/ |
TROY, N.Y. (AP) — An upstate New York Republican is being forced out of her city council post after pleading guilty to three federal counts of voter fraud and amid unfounded assertions across the country — mostly by some in the GOP — of widespread elections tampering.
The case involving Troy City Councilmember Kimberly McPherson, who represents a community northeast of Albany, the state capital, is one just few instances of documented voter fraud.
Some Republicans have falsely charged that the 2000 presidential election was rigged in favor of Democrat Joe Biden.
As part of a plea deal, McPherson admitted to fraudulently casting an absentee ballot in last year's primary election and two such ballots in the general election. McPherson's name appeared on both ballots. She admitted to illegally filing absentee ballots in the names of two other voters.
McPherson was first elected to the City Council in 2015.
If a U.S. district judge accepts the plea, McPherson must resign her post within 30 days. She would also face as much as a year in custody — although the judge can impose a prison term as long as five years and a maximum fine of $250,000.
The Albany Times Union reports that other voter fraud investigations in the area are ongoing. | 2022-06-08T20:19:54+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/NY-official-pleads-guilty-to-federal-voter-fraud-17228500.php |
Amidst the Global Marketing Industry's DEI Crisis, the Move Will Further Accelerate BRIDGE's Momentum and Impact
SAN DIEGO, March 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BRIDGE, the only independent DEI trade organization to serve the global marketing industry, today announced the appointment of Erica DeLorenzo, an industry leader with over two decades of organizational leadership experience, as Senior Vice President of Operations and Chief of Staff. DeLorenzo reports directly to BRIDGE founder and CEO Sheryl Daija. DeLorenzo has more than two decades of leadership experience and most recently served as Chief Operating Officer for the Brand Safety Institute (BSI).
Throughout her impressive career, DeLorenzo also served in key senior roles at MMA Global, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and Wild Tangent. Her depth and breadth of experience in creating valuable programs for members and business partners, as well as her industry association organizational awareness will help to advance and deepen the impact of BRIDGE's operating agenda.
DeLorenzo joins BRIDGE's executive team at a time in which the industry's need for BRIDGE to help fight the DEI crisis and prepare to scale has never been greater. DeLorenzo will fine tune BRIDGE's operations and ensure the team is empowered to effectively and efficiently drive the organization's mission. Upon appointment, DeLorenzo assumes full responsibility and oversight of BRIDGE's processes, foundational systems and capabilities.
During her first year, DeLorenzo will also be laser-focused on co-creating and leading a robust member acquisition and retention strategy that delivers value to all member companies, addresses multiple stakeholders and strengthens BRIDGE's convergence of diversity, marketing and business leaders.
This is not the first time DeLorenzo and Daija have driven success together. When DeLorenzo joined Daija's teams at MMA and the IAB, they developed several critical foundations the industry needed in order for digital and mobile to evolve into viable marketing platforms for advertisers. With an intimate understanding of the power needed to bring an industry together to create impact, as well as a unique collaborative work style, the two expect to be even greater champions of positive industry change.
"The addition of Erica to the executive team of BRIDGE is a game changer for us as we solidify our critical position in the global marketing industry as the driving force behind systemic change," said Daija. "No other industry group has created the opportunity for the world's top diversity, marketing and business leaders to courageously work together to bridge the gaps in belonging, representation, inclusion, diversity and equity. Adding this role, and specifically Erica leading it, will help us accelerate our mission to move DEI from a philosophy to operationalizing inclusion as business practice for growth."
While it's no surprise DeLorenzo was tapped for this critical role, the timing of her appointment is intentional, as BRIDGE prepares to launch BRIDGE 2023, the organization's historic, inaugural retreat. During the 2 ½ days in California in April, 150 of the world's top diversity, marketing and business leaders will convene to advance BRIDGE's mission and collectively define the future agenda for the industry, including executives from Adsmovil, Adidas, Campbell's, Condé Nast, Direct Digital Holdings, Discover Financial, GroupM, IBM Watson Advertising, Indeed, Mediabrands, MilkPEP, Nielsen, OMG, Sephora and Unilever.
"I could not be more ready to get to work and build on the momentum that Sheryl and the BRIDGE Board have already created to drive structural and cultural change in the industry and am thrilled to be part of the milestone launch of BRIDGE 2023," said DeLorenzo. "This role allows me to pursue my long-held belief in business for good and it is an honor to work with the increasing number of leaders who are committed to creating inclusive and equitable communities as the future of business."
While enthusiasm for DeLorenzo's appointment is unanimous across BRIDGE's Board of Directors and team, Daija notes that the appointment was also mandatory.
"Unfortunately, right now, we are on a collision course against DEI that we must derail," said Daija. "We have state governors issuing directives with an intentional mischaracterization of how DEI practices actually work, layoffs that are setting diversity back by decades and discriminatory education practices that grow the chasms. As BRIDGE expands our reach, we stand ready to help companies with an actionable framework to bridge their unique gaps to build an inclusive workplace and marketplace. Having a strong internal team is key to being able to help as many businesses as possible."
Since launching in April of 2022, BRIDGE has already amassed a significant membership and a board of the most elite brands, agencies and publishers in the world.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can join BRIDGE to drive change, please contact wearestrongertogether@wearebridge.com.
About BRIDGE
Launched in 2022, BRIDGE is a member-driven 501C6. We help companies bridge the gaps that have created inequities for under-represented and untapped communities in the workplace, workforce and marketplace. With the variety of programs that BRIDGE offers including proprietary research, storytelling workshops, best practices, events and more, we identify and dismantle the structures in place to drive systemic change in belonging, representation, inclusion, diversity and equity (BRIDGE is an acronym for these constructs). Our long term goal is to create a comprehensive BRIDGE agenda for companies and certify against its implementation and impact. BRIDGE is an inclusive organization that welcomes support and participation from all companies in the global marketing industry as well as like-minded academics and DEI champions. We are stronger together. Visit BRIDGE to learn more and join (http://www.wearebridge.com).
Media Contact: Linzy Meija, linzy@purposenorthamerica.com
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SOURCE BRIDGE | 2023-03-08T15:14:49+00:00 | kwch.com | https://www.kwch.com/prnewswire/2023/03/08/bridge-appoints-erica-delorenzo-svp-operations-chief-staff/ |
New DocuSign feature applies AI to live video selfies to make process more convenient & prevent identity spoofing and deep-fakes
SAN FRANCISCO, July 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DocuSign (NASDAQ: DOCU) today announced the launch of its enhanced identity verification offering, Liveness Detection for ID Verification. Part of DocuSign's Identify portfolio, this new feature uses artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled biometric checks to confirm signers are who they say they are, are physically present at signing and that their IDs are valid.
Identity verification is essential to establishing a trust relationship. Traditionally, it has been a cumbersome, in-person process. Using Liveness Detection for ID Verification, businesses can now easily, securely and remotely prevent the use of fake documents and the use of deep fakes or pre-recordings, as well as prevent identity spoofing. The global solution provides a critical capability for companies adopting identity-proofing as part of their onboarding workflows that improve trust, compliance and simplify the user experience. AI-enabled Liveness Detection for ID Verification delivers on our commitment to provide a secure intelligent agreement process.
"At DocuSign, we don't believe in the false trade-off between either efficiency or risk," said Inhi Cho Suh, DocuSign President of Product & Technology. "We're infusing our entire product suite with AI to provide global customers with frictionless experiences that are smarter, easier and more trusted. Liveness Detection for ID Verification applies the power of artificial intelligence to live video selfies to provide the equivalent of face-to-face security without the inconvenience of showing up in person."
Developed in partnership with Onfido, a global leader in automated identity verification, the new feature is tightly integrated with DocuSign's popular eSignature workflow, eliminating the need for users to use multiple platforms to complete secure agreements. The feature applies AI to live video selfies – taken by signers – to confirm that the signer taking the video matches the photo on their ID and that the face on the provided ID and the face in the selfie video match. Liveness Detection for ID Verification also confirms that there has been no spoofing detected, that the user was not using a fake webcam or an emulator, and that the signer is physically present at the time the video selfie was taken.
"With instances of identity fraud on the rise, it's never been more essential for businesses to ensure that their online customers are who they say they are," said Mike Tuchen, Chief Executive Officer of Onfido. "We're excited to partner with DocuSign, which aligns with our goal of preventing fraud while simplifying the identity verification process for organizations across the globe."
This enhancement to DocuSign's ID Verification solution is another step in the company's use of AI to strengthen its suite of agreement products. DocuSign recently announced the launch of Agreement Summarization, enabled by an integration with Azure's OpenAI Service, which simplifies the document review process by using AI to automatically surface the most critical components of a document, enabling signers to get a better grasp on key information in their agreement before they sign. This allows them to make more informed decisions faster, saving time in the review process.
Pricing and Availability: Liveness Detection for ID Verification is available globally and is offered to all existing ID Verification or ID Verification Premier customers.
About DocuSign
DocuSign redefines how the world comes together and agrees, making agreements smarter, easier and more trusted. As part of its industry leading product lineup, DocuSign offers eSignature, the world's #1 way to sign electronically on practically any device, from almost anywhere, at any time. Today, over 1 million customers and more than a billion users in over 180 countries use DocuSign products and solutions to accelerate the process of doing business and simplify people's lives. For more information visit http://www.docusign.com.
Media Relations
Megan Gregorio
media@docusign.com
Investor Relations
investors@docusign.com
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SOURCE DocuSign, Inc. | 2023-07-25T13:17:36+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2023/07/25/docusign-launches-new-ai-powered-id-verification-solution/ |
(The Hill) — Former national security adviser John Bolton said in a new interview that former President Donald Trump’s defense after the FBI allegedly found classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate “shows a real level of desperation.”
“When somebody begins to concoct lies like this, it shows a real level of desperation,” Bolton, who was appointed by Trump, told The New York Times.
The now-unsealed search warrant and property receipt indicate the FBI seized 11 sets of classified documents from the Florida estate, including one set labeled as “various classified/TS/SCI documents,” meaning top secret/sensitive compartmentalized information that is required to be viewed in secure facilities.
Trump has said he unilaterally declassified the documents using his presidential authority. Other Trump officials have publicly said the former president had a standing order that any documents taken from the Oval Office to the residence were immediately declassified.
However, Bolton told the Times he had never been told of such an order during his time in the White House or afterward.
“I was never briefed on any such order, procedure, policy when I came in,” Bolton said.
“If he were to say something like that, you would have to memorialize that, so that people would know it existed,” Bolton added.
Authorities said the FBI’s search, which has attracted significant scrutiny and criticism from Trump and his allies, was in connection with its investigation into whether Trump violated the Espionage Act, unlawfully concealed or removed public records or obstructed an investigation.
Bolton told the Times that officials had set up secure facilities at Mar-a-Lago and a property in Bedminster, N.J., both of which Trump regularly visited while president, to view sensitive material, meaning the documents could be viewed while remaining classified. | 2022-08-15T20:17:56+00:00 | kxnet.com | https://www.kxnet.com/hill-politics/bolton-trump-explanations-on-classified-documents-show-real-level-of-desperation/ |
OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — Speaking publicly for the first time since placing Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong on paid administrative leave, newly-elected Mayor Sheng Thao says the move does not mean he will be fired.
Thao says the decision is consistent with any officer under investigation.
“Our goal here is not to be punitive. This is not a disciplinary action to chief LeRonne Armstrong,” Thao said.
Instead, Thao says the decision made by her and the city administrator to place Armstrong on paid administrative leave is consistent with policies guiding investigations into all officers.
“I’ve heard rumors, like people saying, well this is going to be the end of Chief LeRonne Armstrong. And, I want to make sure that everyone understands that putting someone on paid administrative leave while there’s still an active investigation, that’s exactly what it is,” Thao said. “It is not meant to be punitive. But there is an investigation and we want people to understand that under this administration, there will be no different kind of treatment, whether you’re the chief or rank-and-file.”
The move was made after a law firm hired by the city last year released an independent report detailing one police sergeant’s alleged misconduct. The report details the department’s internal affairs division mishandling of the investigations.
The sergeant is accused of leaving the scene of a hit-and-run collision while driving a patrol car back in 2021. One year later, the sergeant fired his gun in an elevator at police headquarters.
The report suggests Armstrong took a hands-off approach in holding the sergeant accountable for his actions. Thao says she is concerned this investigation could prolong a federal monitor’s oversight of the police department.
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That’s been the case since a civil lawsuit was filed against the agency in 2000. Until this, Thao says the department was nearing a period of probation.
“In the very beginning, this oversight was supposed to end after five years. It’s been going on 21 years now, and so of course, we take it very seriously and it is an ongoing concern,” Thao said. “But I, under this Thao administration, we are going to move forward in a way where we’re going to try to get the department out of this federal oversight.”
A good place to start she says is removing internal affairs from investigating officers and transitioning those duties to another oversight committee.
Armstrong has not responded to KRON4’s request for comment. | 2023-01-22T06:27:44+00:00 | kron4.com | https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/mayor-sheng-thao-speaks-for-first-time-since-opd-chief-armstrong-placed-on-leave/ |
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
OK, Michel, how far would you go to raise awareness about something that really mattered to you?
(LAUGHTER)
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
You put me on the spot.
INSKEEP: I mean, literally...
MARTIN: I've only had one cup of coffee. I don't know - pretty far.
INSKEEP: I mean, literally - would you run for miles? Would you run for a hundred miles even? Would you do that?
MARTIN: I wish I could, Steve, but thankfully, we've heard of somebody who can. Mike Riley can, and he can tell you exactly how far he'd go. He ran more than 100 miles going for more than 24 hours.
INSKEEP: Wow.
MARTIN: Riley is a firefighter in Asheville, N.C. And last weekend, he repeated a seven-mile loop for an entire day to bring attention to the link between firefighting and cancer.
MIKE RILEY: Well, just in my life as a firefighter, cancer's affected me pretty dramatically. In the last four years, the Asheville Fire Department's lost four active-duty members to occupational cancer.
INSKEEP: Firefighters die from cancer at a higher rate than the general population, according to the CDC. And the World Health Organization says cancer is an occupational risk of this profession.
RILEY: I think a lot of things are still coming to light, the kind of the revelation that are - not only are the things that are burning in fires are giving us occupational cancer, but our turnout gear itself is also contributing to the problem.
INSKEEP: His run raised money for early screening and testing, but he says the money was not the main goal.
RILEY: I was more interested in the awareness aspect and getting it out there to the public that this was something that needed to happen, that we were paying for our own physicals, our own screenings and taking care of each other.
MARTIN: Running 24 hours straight got brutal, as you can imagine, but towards the end he was in good spirits. He says he was encouraged by all the people who came out to run alongside him.
INSKEEP: Those runs to raise awareness and money for other fire departments across the state of North Carolina. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | 2023-05-10T07:32:32+00:00 | lakeshorepublicmedia.org | https://www.lakeshorepublicmedia.org/2023-04-26/n-c-firefighter-runs-for-24-hours-straight-to-raise-money-for-cancer-charity |
HARRISONBURG, Va. — Deja Kelly scored 20 of her 22 points in the second half and No. 13 North Carolina rallied to defeat James Madison 76-65 on Sunday.
Eva Hodgson, a transfer from William and Mary where she lost to James Madison four times, hit four 3s and scored 18 for North Carolina. Alyssa Ustby added 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Anya Poole had 12 rebounds to go with six points.
Jefferson had 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Dukes. Peyton McDaniel hit five 3s and scored 17 points and Jamia Hazell added 11 points
North Carolina had a 20-13 advantage in the third quarter to go up 50-47. A 12-3 run to open the fourth quarter, beginning and ending with Hodgson layups, gave the Tar Heels a 62-50 lead. But Jefferson was a handful and she scored six straight points to pull James Madison within 68-63 and her basket with 2:12 to play returned it to a five-point game at the 2:12 mark. The Dukes had three misses and two turnovers down the stretch.
North Carolina heads to Oregon for the Phil Knight Invitational and plays No. 21 Oregon on Thursday.
___
AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 | 2022-11-20T21:59:50+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/kelly-rallies-no-13-north-carolina-women-past-james-madison/2022/11/20/50b0a8ba-691b-11ed-8619-0b92f0565592_story.html |
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been caught up in a scandal almost five years after he took office with a pledge to fight corruption. The bizarre case revolves around the theft of cash that robbers found stuffed into a sofa at his game farm. A panel headed by the nation’s former chief justice said there may be grounds for impeaching the 70-year-old leader because of the way he handled the matter. The panel’s findings were rejected by parliament and Ramaphosa comfortably won a second term as head of the governing party. But the drama has blotted his distinguished political career and compounded the woes of a country contending with unprecedented power outages, rampant unemployment and surging living costs.
1. What’s Ramaphosa alleged to have done?
The furor erupted in June, when former chief spy Arthur Fraser laid criminal charges against Ramaphosa, accusing the president of concealing the theft of more than $4 million from the farm in the northern Limpopo province in February 2020. The suspected thieves were also illegally detained and interrogated by presidential security staff, according to the charge sheet. Fraser is a close ally of Jacob Zuma, Ramaphosa’s predecessor and political nemesis, and the source and accuracy of his information remain unclear. The police, the graft ombudsman, tax authorities and the central bank all instituted investigations. Parliament appointed the three-member advisory panel headed by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo to determine if lawmakers should consider Ramaphosa’s dismissal.
2. What did Ngcobo’s panel find?
While it didn’t explicitly call for the president to be impeached, it found he may be guilty of serious misconduct and should be subjected to a parliamentary investigation. It said Ramaphosa had “thrust himself into a situation where there was a conflict of interest between his official responsibilities as the head of state and as a businessperson.” It also concluded that the source of the stolen foreign currency remained unclear, that the crime wasn’t properly reported to the police, and that there was a “deliberate intention” to ensure it wasn’t openly investigated. No one has been charged in connection with the robbery.
3. What does Ramaphosa say?
In a 138-page submission to the panel, the president denied violating his presidential oath or breaking the law. He said he sold 20 buffalo to a Sudanese businessman for $580,000 and it was stolen while he was abroad. The farm manager put the cash in a safe, but later transferred it to a sofa in a spare bedroom in the president’s private house because he thought that was the safest place to keep it. The theft was reported to the head of the Presidential Protection Services, according to Ramaphosa. He initially considered quitting, but later backtracked and asked the nation’s top court to set aside the panel’s report on the basis that it overstepped its mandate and based its findings on hearsay. The governing African National Congress’s lawmakers used their parliamentary majority to reject the panel’s findings and the party then elected Ramaphosa as its leader for a second five-year term. That means he’ll be its presidential candidate in national elections in 2024 bar any unforeseen developments.
4. What happens next?
The probes by the police and other authorities remain ongoing, and under ANC rules Ramaphosa would be forced to quit if criminal charges are laid against him. The ANC’s integrity committee has also conducted its own investigation into whether the president brought the party into disrepute and could recommend that he step aside, although its top leadership will probably make a final call and they aren’t likely to force him out.
5. What does this mean for South Africa?
The initial uncertainty around the president’s future unnerved investors and financial markets. The rand tumbled in early December after the release of the panel’s report, but rebounded after parliament rejected the findings. Ramaphosa is one of the country’s most experienced politicians. A former labor union leader who made a fortune after going into business, he helped to negotiate an end to White-minority rule in the early 1990s and led a panel that drafted the country’s first democratic constitution. Since taking office in 2018, he’s made some headway in tackling the graft that became endemic during Zuma’s nine-year rule and spearheaded a drive to attract billions of dollars in foreign investment.
--With assistance from Paul Vecchiatto and Gordon Bell.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2022 Bloomberg L.P. | 2022-12-20T11:44:33+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/the-scandal-embroiling-south-africas-president/2022/12/20/550b340a-8051-11ed-8738-ed7217de2775_story.html |
Autopsy of Orange County lawyer found dead in Mexico released
LOS ANGELES - The death of an Orange County public defender in Mexico last month was described in an autopsy released Thursday as an aggravated homicide.
An autopsy for 33-year-old Blair performed in Mexico showed the lawyer sustained 40 fractures to the back of his skull as well as "road rash" on his knees and a toe injury, which indicated he was dragged, Blair family attorney Case Barnett said.
The results contradict statement from authorities indicating Blair died from a fall from a balcony at the Rosarito Beach resort where the couple was staying, Barnett said.
"He's not going to have a toe injury and injuries to the back of his head as a result of a fall," Barnett said.
Blair's body was embalmed in a Mexican funeral home, making it a great deal more difficult to do toxicological tests.
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Blair was found dead at the Las Rocas Resort and Spa in Rosarito Beach on Jan. 14. Blair and his wife Kim, also a public defender, were celebrating their one-year wedding anniversary.
The couple's room at the resort was located about 20 to 25 feet from the ground, Barnett said, and Blair was found on his right side with his face down, making it unlikely the injuries were suffered from a fall.
Blair's blood-alcohol level was 0.10, which is two points higher than the legal limit for driving in California, but he did not show any signs of being drunk, according to his friends and wife, Barnett said.
"It was just not a fall -- it looks like he was beaten," Barnett said.
About 90 minutes before he was found dead, the couple were driving back to their hotel room when a Rosarito police officer pulled him over and shook him down for $160, Barnett said.
Blair was pulled over for allegedly rolling through a stop sign, and that's when the police officer "shook him down" and asked him for more than the $160 Blair gave him, Barnett said. The money was accepted and the couple drove off. Blair was found dead just hours later.
"We've never been pulled over before," Blair's wife Kim told Good Morning America on Thursday. "We were both rattled, but at the same time we both had this feeling of thank God they didn't do anything more to us."
The family's investigators have been trying to obtain hotel surveillance video and more law enforcement reports about what happened as they piece together what happened to the attorney, Barnett said.
The family is attempting to set up a meeting with the local prosecutors, Barnett said.
"I just know it's not an accident. I know he didn't fall. I just know that," Kim said.
"I want to do everything we can to figure out what happened in that 45-minute, hour time span," she said. "Because that's what Elliot deserves. And that's the hardest part for me, is not knowing."
The family continues to await for results from its own independent autopsy, which could take several more weeks.
City News Service contributed to this report. | 2023-02-10T18:41:43+00:00 | fox10phoenix.com | https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/elliot-blair-autopsy-orange-county-lawyer-mexico-death-autopsy |
Dr. Hyman brings expertise in healthcare and wellness advocacy, leadership, and education to the Fountain Life Medical Advisory Board
NAPLES, Fla., March 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fountain Life, a preventative health and longevity company committed to transforming global healthcare from reactive to proactive, today announced the appointment of Mark Hyman, M.D. to the company's Medical Advisory Board.
Mark Hyman, M.D. is a practicing family physician and an internationally recognized leader, speaker, educator, and advocate in the field of Functional Medicine. He is the founder and director of The UltraWellness Center, Founder and Senior Advisor for the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, a fifteen-time New York Times best-selling author, and Board President for Clinical Affairs for The Institute for Functional Medicine. He is the founder and chairman of the Food Fix Campaign, dedicated to transforming our food and agriculture system through policy.
"We are honored to welcome Dr. Hyman to our Medical Advisory Board," said Bill Kapp, M.D., Fountain Life CEO and co-founder. "His commitment to applying scientific research to the goal of improving patient health and longevity is remarkable. His experience and insights will be particularly valuable as we pursue our mission to extend healthspan by detecting and diagnosing diseases at their earliest stages."
Dr. Hyman has distinguished himself as the host of one of the leading health podcasts, The Doctor's Farmacy with 150+ million downloads. His expertise is widely sought after as a regular medical contributor to several television shows and networks, including CBS This Morning, Today, Good Morning America, The View, and CNN. His latest book, Young Forever: The Secrets to Living Your Longest, Healthiest Life, is currently a #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller, the #1 seller on Amazon, and the #1 bestselling hardcover book in America .
"I believe everyone deserves a life of vitality and that we have the potential to create that life for ourselves. I feel in synchrony with Fountain Life's values and commitment to empowering people to be in control of their health," Hyman stated. "I am thrilled to join Fountain Life's esteemed Medical Advisory Board and contribute to making their innovative healthcare offerings available to more members across the U.S. and globally."
Hyman joins Eric Verdin, M.D., president and chief executive officer of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, and Daniel Kraft, M.D., Stanford and Harvard-trained physician-scientist, inventor, entrepreneur on the Fountain Life Medical Advisory Board. The Board's primary mission is to provide strategic input, guidance, and recommendations for the company's expanding efforts in preventative medicine.
About Fountain Life
Fountain Life brings together the world's most renowned scientists and physicians to boost longevity and performance – putting health back in healthcare. Fountain Life does this by using cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) to collect data and gain insights into the human body that have never been possible before. Fountain Life's data-driven approach enables finding illnesses, including cancer, cardiac, metabolic, and neurodegenerative disease, early before they can cause harm. As a result, Fountain Life members operate at peak performance throughout their life with the aim that they will feel as healthy and vibrant at 100 as they were at 60. Learn more at www.fountainlife.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
A photo of Dr. Mark Hyman is available upon request.
Photos of Fountain Life centers (interior and exterior) are available upon request.
Fountain Life Media Contacts:
Erica Fiorini, Ph.D., or David Schull
Russo Partners, LLC
Erica.Fiorini@RussoPartnersLLC.com
David.Schull@RussoPartnersLLC.com
+1 (914) 310-8172
Fountain Life Company Contact:
Evan Balter
Evan@fountainlife.com
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SOURCE Fountain Life | 2023-03-06T14:59:19+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2023/03/06/fountain-life-appoints-mark-hyman-md-medical-advisory-board/ |
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Activate your digital account | 2022-05-23T13:02:06+00:00 | indystar.com | https://www.indystar.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.indystar.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fnfl%2Fcolts%2F2022%2F05%2F23%2Fcolts-why-bernhard-raimanns-unlikely-nfl-path-might-give-team-lt%2F9834587002%2F |
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Europe’s banking sector could withstand a severe economic downturn without depleting their financial buffers against losses, the European Central Bank said Friday.
A survey of 98 large and medium-sized banks done by the ECB’s supervisory arm in conjunction with the European Banking Authority showed that even in the most adverse scenario — a fall of almost 10% in economic outpoint over three years — banks would still have enough capital to cover losses and then some.
The stress test was not a pass-fail exercise for banks in the 20 countries that use the euro currency. Rather, results for individual banks will be used by banking regulators in determining how much capital they need to hold in reserve.
Banks are crucial to the European economy because companies get most of their financing from them, instead of from financial markets — the opposite of the situation in the U.S.
The ECB took over supervision of the biggest banks after the eurozone debt crisis more than a decade ago, when bank losses led to heavy bailout costs for governments. National supervisors were perceived to have been less than vigilant on developing risks.
Scrutiny of bank finances has grown after the failure of three U.S. banks amid rising interest rates that led to losses on investments and mass withdrawal of deposits. The financial turmoil then hit Credit Suisse, a globally significant bank that had long-running problems, leading the Swiss government to engineer an emergency takeover by rival UBS to prevent further banking chaos.
Switzerland is not part of the European Union, where some of the safeguards instituted after the 2008-2009 global financial crisis were more widely applied. | 2023-07-29T15:38:48+00:00 | keloland.com | https://www.keloland.com/business/ap-business/ap-europes-banks-could-survive-a-drastic-economic-downturn-stress-test-shows/ |
The top U.S. financial regulator has charged celebrity Kim Kardashian for touting a cryptocurrency on her Instagram account without disclosing that she was paid for the promotion.
The Securities and Exchange Commission said Monday Kardashian has agreed to pay a fine of $1 million, although she did not admit or deny the S.E.C.'s findings. She will also give back $260,000, which includes her payment from the company with interest.
"Ms. Kardashian's case also serves as a reminder to celebrities and others that the law requires them to disclose to the public when and how much they are paid to promote investing in securities," said SEC chair Gary Gensler.
Kardashian, who has around 330 million Instagram followers, was paid $250,000 to promote cryptocurrency offered by EthereumMax called EMAX tokens.
According to regulators, her post also "provided instructions for potential investors to purchase EMAX tokens." And that violates an "anti-touting provision" in the federal securities laws.
As the popularity of crypto has ballooned, companies have spent millions of dollars on marketing. Many of them have hired celebrities spokespersons, including comedian Larry David and actor Matt Damon, to promote their products. But after the value of Bitcoin and other digital currencies plummeted, many of them have been criticized for boosting them.
As more and more celebrities promote products online, regulators have started to take a closer look to make sure that they're following rules.
The Federal Trade Commission, for instance, has cracked down on celebrities and social media influencers who don't adequately disclose their connections or that they are paid by the products they promote.
Two years ago, the FTC fired off warning letters to several Internet influencers and celebrities, like the recording artists Cardi B and Jordin Sparks, reminding them of their legal obligation to disclose their connections to the products they promote.
While Kardashian didn't admit or deny the SEC's findings, in an agreement with the regulator, she agreed to not promote any crypto asset securities for three years.
NPR has reached out to Kardashian for comment.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2022-10-03T14:19:39+00:00 | mtpr.org | https://www.mtpr.org/2022-10-03/sec-charges-kim-kardashian-for-unlawfully-touting-crypto-on-her-instagram-account |
Silvergrin Vodka, from Sespe Creek Distillery in Oxnard, California, was awarded "World's Best Vodka" in this year's international World Vodka Awards
OXNARD, Calif., June 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In news from the "I didn't see that coming" genre, comes the report that a vodka made in California has been named the World's Best. Hailing from the sleepy, seaside town of Oxnard, the top award in the varietal category was awarded to Silvergrin Vodka, beating out the top vodkas from 18 other countries. It is the first time that the World Vodka Awards highest honor has been won by a California brand.
Drawing on the history of vodka as a spirit with deep agricultural roots, Silvergrin is made with a triple-origin mash bill of farm grown Alturas potatoes, organic corn and Dark Red winter wheat. The vodka features a recipe developed by three-time James Beard nominated bartender, Josh Goldman and PhD biochemist, David Brandt.
"We set out to destroy the myth that vodka had to be odorless, flavorless and without distinct character," says co-creator Goldman. "I don't need something so dull in my cocktails. It's like cooking with water versus cooking with stock. Vodka done right tastes good and adds much more to the cocktail than just alcohol."
The win for Silvergrin comes fresh on the heels of the United States' recent change to the legal definition of vodka. In 2020, the Alcohol and Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) revised their requirement that vodka needed to be "without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color." Writing about the decision in April, 2020, the TTB explained: "Based on its review of the comments, TTB agrees that the requirement that vodka be without distinctive character, aroma, taste, or color no longer reflects consumer expectations and should be eliminated." Silvergrin's launch in the summer of 2020 makes it among the first class of American vodkas introduced after the revision.
"America is home to some of the finest agricultural soil in the world," says Sespe Creek Distillery owner, Alfred English. "And especially on some smaller, family farms, the quality of grains and vegetables is truly extraordinary. If you're making a spirit from such delicious crops, why would you want to strip all of that flavor and character out? We thought you could make a much better vodka by honoring the base ingredients instead of hiding them."
Silvergrin is available at select retailers in California, and begins distribution in Texas later this year.
For more information, visit https://silvergrin.com/.
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SOURCE Sespe Creek Distillery | 2022-06-18T23:37:23+00:00 | wlox.com | https://www.wlox.com/prnewswire/2022/06/18/worlds-best-vodka-award-won-by-california-distillery/ |
Designed with Creative Director in Residence Nicola Formichetti, the future forward lab in Paris' 11th Arrondissement and Gen Z magazine MINI V immerse consumers in the world of Claire's
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., March 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global brand Claire's is continuing to cement its foothold in fashion and culture with the opening of its new store in Paris, creating a space for consumers to experience the future of the brand. Ushering in a new era of retail, the store was designed in collaboration with Claire's Creative Director in Residence, Nicola Formichetti. Today Claire's will celebrate the store, located on Rue Faubourg St. Antoine, and the launch of MINI V, the newest and youngest edition of the V editorial family, with a fashion week event.
"We want our customers to feel inspired – through our product, our content and our innovative creative partnerships – but most importantly, through the shopping experience itself," said Richard Flint, Claire's President of Europe. "The new Paris store is a portal into our brand world and a glimpse into our future. Full of immersive experiences and innovative touches, we're inviting consumers to have fun, experiment and co-create with Claire's."
The event will also shine a spotlight on MINI V, which launched in December and was developed through Claire's partnership with Nicola Formichetti and V Magazine to bring a youthful lens to photography, fashion, music and culture for the new generation. With the release of its second issue this spring, MINI V will continue to be a nonstop festival of artistry, beauty and inclusivity by exploring today's fashion and pop-culture trends and sparking important conversations around topics like cyberbullying, self-acceptance and political policies through powerful essays penned by Gen Z activists, artists and politicians.
"Gen 'Zalpha' is fearless, authentic and wildly creative in the ways they show up, and our brand is a platform that creates space for them to express all sides of themselves. Through our creation of MINI V, we are championing them in a whole new way and giving a powerful place for their voices to be heard," said Kristin Patrick, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer of Claire's.
"Claire's and I believe in individuality, and together we hope to send the younger generation on an enjoyable and fun journey of self-expression," said Nicola Formichetti. "With the launch of MINI V, we have a unique opportunity to offer young consumers tools to unlock their personal style while also providing a space to explore deeper topics and a powerful platform to share their voices."
The 1,200 square foot Paris store is designed for total brand immersion with experiences and social storytelling at its core. An ear-shaped 'chandel-ear' designed by Formichetti celebrates the brand's #EarPrint campaign, whilst two dedicated ear piercing studios showcase Claire's industry-leading service and a content creation studio invites consumers in to have fun with creativity. The store will serve as a launch pad for exclusive, new products and test lines while hosting a steady rotation of experiential and pop-up events.
The store sets the tone for the brand's future and establishes Claire's foothold as a Gen 'Zalpha' destination for new products and experiences. Follow along @ClairesStores and @MiniVMag on social media.
About Claire's Holdings LLC
Claire's Holdings LLC is a fully integrated, global fashion brand powerhouse committed to inspiring self-expression through the creation and delivery of exclusive, well-curated products and experiences. More information regarding Claire's is available at corporate.claires.com.
MEDIA CONTACT
Sarah Gordon, SHADOW
sgordon@weareshadow.com
Nicole Colasanto, SHADOW
ncolasanto@weareshadow.com
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SOURCE Claire's | 2023-03-06T14:02:46+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/prnewswire/2023/03/06/claires-celebrates-its-new-paris-store-launch-mini-v-magazine-during-paris-fashion-week/ |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California released a plan Tuesday detailing how Western states reliant on the Colorado River should save more water. It came a day after the six other states in the river basin made a competing proposal.
In a letter to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, California described how states could conserve between 1 million and nearly 2 million acre feet of water through new cuts based on the elevation of Lake Mead, a key reservoir.
Its plan did not account for water lost to evaporation and during transportation — a move sought by the other states that would mean big cuts for California.
The 1,450-mile river (2,334-kilometer) serves 40 million people across the West and Mexico, generating hydroelectric power for regional markets and irrigating nearly 6 million acres (2,428 hectares) of farmland.
A multi-decade drought in the West worsened by climate change, rising demand and overuse has sent water levels at key reservoirs along the river to unprecedented lows. That has forced federal and state officials to take additional steps to protect the system.
California’s plan and the separate methods outlined by states Monday came in response to Reclamation asking them last year to detail how they would use between 15% and 30% less water. The federal agency operates the major dams in the river system.
All seven states missed that deadline last August. Six of them regrouped and came to an agreement by the end of January. California was the the lone holdout to that agreement, and responded Tuesday with its own plan.
Unlike the other states’ plan, California’s does not factor the roughly 1.5 million acre feet of Colorado River water lost to evaporation and transportation.
Instead, it proposes reducing water taken out of Lake Mead by 1 million acre feet, with 400,000 acre feet coming from its own users. The state previously outlined that level of cuts in October. Arizona would bear the brunt of bigger cuts — 560,000 acre feet — while Nevada would make up the rest. Those numbers are based on discussions from prior negotiations, California’s letter said.
An acre foot is enough water to supply two to three U.S. households for a year.
The Arizona Department of Water Resources said it was still reviewing California’s proposal and didn’t have an immediate comment.
But Tom Buschatzke, the department’s director, said earlier Tuesday that water managers across the basin couldn’t reach agreement with California on cuts, even at the broader state level.
“The big issues are what does the priority system mean, what does the junior priority mean and how does that attach to that outcome of who takes what cut?” he said. “That was the issue over the summer, that was the issue over the fall, that’s still the issue.”
California has the largest allocation of water among the seven U.S. states that tap the Colorado River. It is also among the last to face water cuts in times of shortage because of its senior water rights.
That has given the state an advantage over others in talks that spanned months over how to cut water use.
California water officials have often repeated that any additional water cuts must be legally defensible and in line with western water law that honors its water rights.
JB Hamby, chairman of the Colorado River Board of California and a board member of the Imperial Irrigation District, indicated California may file a lawsuit if the federal government attempts to count for evaporative losses.
“The best way to avoid conflict and ensure that we can put water in the river right away is through a voluntary approach, not putting proposals that sidestep the Law of the River and ignore California’s senior right and give no respect to that,” he said.
Existing agreements only spell cuts when Lake Mead’s elevation is between 1,090 feet (332 meters) and 1,025 feet (312 meters). If it drops any lower than 1,025 feet, California’s plan proposes even further cuts based on the so-called Law of the River — likely meaning Arizona and Nevada would bear the brunt of them. Those cuts are designed to keep Lake Mead from reaching “dead pool,” when it could no longer pump out water to farms and cities including Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix.
The reservoir’s current elevation is around 1,045 feet.
In total, California’s plan could save between 1 million and 2 million acre-feet of water based on the elevation levels at Lake Mead, from which Arizona, California, Nevada and Mexico draw their share of the river.
Adel Hagekhalil, general manager for the Metropolitan Water District of California, the nation’s largest water supplier, said it was important to protect key reservoirs “without getting mired in lengthy legal battles.”
Hagekhalil and other water managers pointed to numerous efforts the state has made to drastically reduce its water usage by making agricultural and urban water use more efficient.
“California knows how to permanently reduce use of the river — we have done it over the past 20 years, through billions of dollars in investments and hard-earned partnerships,” he said in a statement. “We can help the entire Southwest do it again as we move forward.”
The new proposals do not change states’ water allocations immediately — or disrupt their existing water rights. Instead, they will be folded into a larger proposal Reclamation is working on to revise how it operates Glen Canyon and Hoover Dams — behemoth power producers on the Colorado River.
Despite California’s inability to reach agreement with the other six states so far, the parties said they hope to keep talking.
“We’re not going to stop the discussions,” said Buschatzke of Arizona, “and maybe we come to an agreement and maybe we won’t.”
___
Naishadham reported from Washington, D.C. AP writer Felicia Fonseca contributed from Flagstaff, Arizona.
___
The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment | 2023-02-01T08:30:19+00:00 | upmatters.com | https://www.upmatters.com/news/ap-us-news/ap-california-releases-its-own-plan-for-colorado-river-cuts/ |
___
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- Uvalde CISD fires officer over comments made during massacre | 2022-10-08T22:23:06+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/sports/article/Tampa-Bay-AL-Wildcard-Team-Stax-17496229.php |
Updated March 28, 2023 at 1:06 PM ET
Nashville authorities on Tuesday released graphic body camera footage showing the fatal confrontation between police and an armed assailant who attacked a grade school Monday morning.
Six people — including three children — were killed in the shooting, and the suspected attacker was killed by police within minutes of the first call of an active shooter.
The shooting occurred at the Covenant School, a private elementary school on the grounds of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Nashville's Green Hills neighborhood.
The massacre drew messages of sympathy from politicians including President Biden and others across the country, and it reignited calls for Congress to do more to prevent school shootings.
According to the national Gun Violence Archive, there have been 130 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year.
Here's what we know about the Nashville shooting and those who died:
How the shooting unfolded
Authorities say they received the first call of an active shooter at Covenant School at 10:13 a.m. local time.
The attacker, who police identified as 28-year-old Audrey Hale of the Nashville area, was a former student of the school. Authorities initially identified Hale as a woman, but later clarified that Hale used he/him pronouns.
Surveillance footage shows Hale driving to the school in a Honda Fit. Dressed in camouflage-style pants, a white T-shirt, a red cap and a black vest, Hale shoots out the glass of a side door and crawls through the opening to access the building. The shooter was armed with two AR-style guns — a rifle and a handgun — as well as a pistol, investigators said.
Local police arrived at the school within minutes of the first 911 call.
Body camera footage released Tuesday shows Officer Rex Engelbert arriving at the school, grabbing his weapon from the back of his vehicle and encountering a woman who appears to be a staff member.
She tells him, "The kids are all locked down, but we have two kids that we don't know where they are." She also describes layout of the school and says children are upstairs.
Engelbert and at least two other officers begin searching the first floor of the school, as an alarm blares. They check check several rooms, including what appear to be classrooms. Some doors are locked and the rooms are dark.
Muffled gunshots can be heard in the background, and Engelbert and the other officers rush upstairs to the second floor.
The gunshots grow louder, and Engelbert enters an atrium and encounters the shooter standing near a window. Engelbert fires four times and the shooter falls to the ground.
Body camera footage from a second officer, Michael Collazo, shows him entering the school on the first floor with a group of other officers.
Collazo and the other officers reached the second floor, where one says "we've got one down" as loud gunshots are heard.
He steps behind Engelbert as the group enters the atrium.
After Engelbert shoots Hale, officers rush the suspect, and Collazo fires four more times.
Englebert is a four-year veteran of the force, and Collazo is a nine-year veteran.
The officers shot and killed Hale at 10:27 — 14 minutes after the first emergency call.
Authorities said Hale had also been shooting at responding officers through a second-story window.
The victims
On Monday afternoon, police identified the three students and three staff members who were killed:
The investigation
Police haven't disclosed whether they've uncovered a motive for the shooting.
Investigators said on Tuesday that they were reviewing writings by Hale, who had attended the Covenant School, and searching a nearby house.
Hale apparently also had detailed maps drawn of the school that identified entry points and surveillance.
Of the three guns Hale used in the shooting, at least two were purchased legally, investigators said.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-03-28T17:31:12+00:00 | upr.org | https://www.upr.org/npr-news/npr-news/2023-03-28/what-we-know-about-the-deadly-shooting-at-a-nashville-elementary-school |
JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — The death toll from clashes between displaced people inside a U.N. site in South Sudan has risen to more than 20, with more than 50 others wounded, the medical charity MSF said Friday.
The statement by the organization, which is also known as Doctors Without Borders, said that two of its staff were among those hurt. Some of the injured were being airlifted to the capital, Juba.
“While the situation was relatively calm this morning, many women and children who fled the camp are yet to return in fear of escalation,” said Luz Linares, MSF’s head of mission in the country.
Thursday’s clashes in the Malakal camp occurred between members of the Shilluk and Nuer ethnic groups, a local representative of the displaced people told The Associated Press. The U.N. office in South Sudan said the fighting began with a stabbing, and that its mission had reinforced the military and police presence in the area in “close collaboration” with South Sudan’s military and authorities.
Deadly violence between ethnic groups and communities still troubles South Sudan years after a 2018 peace deal to end a five-year civil war. During the conflict, thousands of people took shelter inside U.N. protection sites.
More than 41,000 people are staying in the Malakal site, which is also a designated camp for people fleeing the violence in neighboring Sudan, MSF said. | 2023-06-10T14:32:00+00:00 | nwahomepage.com | https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/international/ap-international/death-toll-in-clashes-between-ethnic-groups-at-un-displacement-camp-in-south-sudan-now-more-than-20/ |
It's time for the 13th Annual TMC Meet Me Downtown 5k Run/Walk, including the new Friday Night Festival of Miles.
Over the past 16 years, the TMC Night Run has grown to become Tucson’s biggest running event and a city-wide block party, with a free concert, plenty of children’s activities, a free beer garden and a food truck round-up, capped off with an after-party on the patio of Tucson's iconic Hotel Congress. Race Director, Randy Accetta talks about the the annual run/walk, and the new Friday Night Festival of Miles.
This race, the first leg of the popular 2022 Gabe Zimmerman Triple Crown, has raised more than $250,000 for local charities over the years.
Learn more at: RunTucson.net | 2022-05-31T22:04:55+00:00 | kgun9.com | https://www.kgun9.com/the-morning-blend/13th-annual-tmc-meet-me-downtown-5k-run-walk-friday-night-festival-of-miles |
PITTSBURGH, Nov. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I needed a better way to clean and remove dirt from my face and eye area on a daily basis," said an inventor, from McKinney, Texas, "so I invented the CLEAR ALL. My design would offer an improved alternative to using traditional face wipes."
The patent-pending invention provides an effective way to remove makeup and dirt from the face and body. In doing so, it eliminates the need to waste multiple towelettes or makeup wipes. As a result, it saves time and effort and it could simplify the skincare routine. The invention features a neat and compact design that is easy to use so it is ideal for the general population, individuals who wear makeup, etc. Additionally, it is producible in design variations.
The original design was submitted to the Dallas sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 21-DAL-232, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.
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SOURCE InventHelp | 2022-11-01T19:29:56+00:00 | newschannel10.com | https://www.newschannel10.com/prnewswire/2022/11/01/inventhelp-inventor-develops-new-cleansing-product-face-amp-body-dal-232/ |
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Xoxoday, a global SaaS Fintech company known for its rewards, incentives, benefits, loyalty and payouts infrastructure for businesses, has launched an additional catalog of 5,000+ experiential rewards across the USA, Europe, India, Middle East, and Southeast Asia. This unleashes a new dimension for businesses to delight their customers, employees, & partners with personalized, unforgettable and shareable experiences globally.
Xoxoday is the first rewards, loyalty & incentives platform to have a wide range of experiences in its catalog, along with 22,000+ digital gift vouchers and merchandise options. The launch of the experiential reward catalog sparked instant attention from 60+ businesses. The global launch is receiving positive reception from businesses across geographies and scale, reinforcing Xoxoday's mission of making growth stories rewarding for everyone.
Capitalizing on the global boom in experiences, the wide-ranging catalog enables Xoxoday users to differentiate their rewards programs with experiences that connect directly with people's passions. Sales teams can take their client conversations to the next level with lifetime experiences like flying a light airplane, HR teams can engage employees with team-building experiences like treks, and marketers can reward customers with once-in-a-lifetime adventures. The catalog comprises uniquely localized experiences from over 36 countries with 50+ experiences in each city.
Speaking on the significance and efficacy of an experience catalog today, Manoj Agarwal, Co-founder, Xoxoday, stated, "Experiences don't just spark a moment of delight but have the power to strengthen connections between businesses and their customers, employees, & partners. With experiential rewards, businesses can help people pursue their interests, connect with themselves or just escape the mundane. Now, a travel enthusiast can redeem a reward for an adventurous trip over a long weekend, shared with friends & family, creating lasting memories. Over time, we plan to not just keep adding to the catalog, but to unearth newer, richer avenues of joy."
Explore the Xoxoday experiences catalog today!
About Xoxoday
Xoxoday is a rapidly growing fintech SaaS firm that propels business growth while focusing on human motivation. Backed by Giift and Apis Partners Growth Fund II, Xoxoday offers a suite of three products - Plum, Empuls, and Compass. Xoxoday works with more than 5,000 clients across 100+ countries and over 80 million end-users. Xoxoday is a 380+ strong team with nine global offices across USA, Ireland, UAE, India, Singapore, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Nigeria.
Media Contact
Manoj Agarwal, manoj@xoxoday.com, +91-9884540050
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1224198/Xoxoday_Logo.jpg
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SOURCE Xoxoday | 2022-11-15T10:15:07+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2022/11/15/xoxoday-raises-bar-with-global-experiential-rewards-rollout/ |
Amazon has opened a new warehouse in Renton to help make its promise of same-day delivery a reality for more customers in the region.
The 130,000-square-foot facility moves packages through a condensed version of Amazon’s fulfillment network, enabling items like AirPods and coronavirus tests to make it to a customer’s doorstep hours after a purchase.
The warehouse runs almost 24/7, with only one hour of downtime, and breaks the day into different windows to estimate drop-off times. It uses an in-house metric to stock the most popular items. Once a customer clicks “order,” it sends one of its autonomous robots off on a “mission” to grab the item.
Amazon has more than 40 same-day facilities across the country, including two in Washington. It opened the first of its kind, SWA1, in Everett in 2019.
Once operations at the Renton warehouse, SWA2, ramp up fully, both locations will enable same-day delivery for Amazon Prime customers as far north as Marysville, as far south as Tacoma and as far east as Snolquamie, Maple Valley and Black Diamond.
“We have set a goal to continue to reduce lead time,” said Steve Volk, a multisite leader who is responsible for Amazon warehouses in Washington, Colorado, Utah and Northern California. “With the launch of SWA2, we’re able to offer more customers that service.”
Amazon had to put plans for the warehouse on hold last year after state officials voiced concerns about how the more than 1,500 cars slated to enter and leave the site daily could affect traffic. Since then, Amazon has spent the past year tweaking its plans and agreeing to mitigation measures.
The project was paused five times between August 2021 and April 2022, according to documents from Renton officials.
Amazon has run into similar concerns around the country as it expands its physical footprint, with advocates drawing attention to the potential impact of noise, traffic and pollution on the communities where Amazon sets up. In some cases, advocates say, those harms disproportionately affect poorer communities and communities of color.
In Washington, the company recently backed out of plans to open a warehouse in Rainier Valley, announcing its decision the day before community members gathered to protest Amazon’s presence in the neighborhood.
Renton officials approved plans for the Amazon warehouse in July, but the approval is “subject to conditions,” according to documents from the city’s Department of Community and Economic Development.
That’s because Amazon’s work pattern and workload won’t necessitate some of those mitigation measures right away, said Alex Morganroth, a senior planner with the city of Renton. In other words, those traffic concerns won’t be a problem until Amazon’s business in the area ramps up.
“They’ve been very upfront about what they’re trying to do. It’s a new-use case for us,” Morganroth said. “More than anything it’s been some lessons learned for possible future expansion.”
Amazon has until the end of January to construct a roundabout, put in a traffic signal, widen part of the street leading up to the warehouse, add Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps, put in signage warning drivers of the upcoming warehouse and trim some vegetation. Amazon is also spending $400,000 to implement traffic control systems at four intersections around the facility.
“It’s been a journey for us to get this building off the ground, but we were committed to working with the jurisdiction,” Volk said.
The new warehouse will be serviced by Amazon Flex gig workers who pick up packages in their own vehicles and make deliveries to customers’ doorsteps. A Flex driver’s route length can range from two to five hours.
It has about 100 hourly associates and expects to ramp up to 250 workers.
Typically, an Amazon package would move through three types of buildings before hitting the customer’s doorstep: a fulfillment center, a sortation center and a delivery station. At its same-day facilities, Amazon will “take all that and put it under one roof” to deliver hours after a customer places an order, Volk said.
The smaller same-day facility includes many of the same things as a larger fulfillment center — autonomous robots that bring items to associates, picking and packing stations for workers to process orders and prepare them for delivery, and a conveyor belt that helps get each item out the door — but the process is condensed.
There’s only one main conveyor belt. The picking and packing stations are back to back with a “wall” filled with cubbies, with associates on either side to deposit an item and then pick it up again. Instead of loading a large truck, packages are loaded into a driver’s personal vehicle with an average of 30 items per trip.
The Renton warehouse can handle items as small as gift cards and toothpaste and as large as car seats, vacuums and bags of dog food.
Since launching Aug. 31, the facility moves about 5,000 packages a day. Once it fully ramps up over the next several months, that will jump to 20,000.
To stock the warehouse, Amazon uses the Amazon Sellable Inventory Number, a metric that predicts popular items by region. The items in a same-day delivery station in Seattle may not be the same as those in Tampa, Florida. Overall, AirPods, coronavirus tests and Fire TV sticks are popular, Volk said.
The warehouse was first built in 1997. Before Amazon moved in, shipping service DHL Global Forwarding occupied the space.
This February, nearly 10 months after Amazon first submitted paperwork for the new warehouse, the Renton City Council declared a moratorium on land use, permits and license applications for warehouses and distribution facilities to give staff time to “analyze the impacts,” according to a report from the Renton Department of Community and Economic Development.
Although Amazon narrowly missed the cutoff, city officials determined it would still be exempt from the moratorium because it is taking space in an “existing industrial building.” | 2022-09-18T13:34:49+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/inside-the-amazon-site-built-to-boost-same-day-delivery-around-seattle/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_business |
North Carolina kidnapping suspect arrested in Belleview
Published: Jul. 12, 2023 at 10:46 PM EDT|Updated: 17 minutes ago
BELLEVIEW, Fla. (WCJB) - A man was arrested in Marion County on a kidnapping charge from out of state.
Marion County sheriff’s deputies say Alex Shaw, 22, was acting suspiciously when they spotted him near Southeast 100th Ave. in Belleview Tuesday morning.
They found out he had an active warrant for kidnapping from North Carolina.
Shaw is booked into the Marion County Jail with a court date set for August 11.
TRENDING STORY: More charges expected for former church volunteer arrested for touching minors inappropriately
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Copyright 2023 WCJB. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-13T03:04:31+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/2023/07/13/north-carolina-kidnapping-suspect-arrested-belleview/ |
MADRID (AP) — Spanish environmental groups on Monday called on the European Union to open an inquiry into the approval of 26.4 million euros ($28.1 million) of “green” economic recovery funds to join two ski resorts in the rapidly warming Pyrenees mountain range.
Five Spanish groups sent a delegation to Brussels for meetings this week with European Union lawmakers and officials to urge greater scrutiny of a project they say will cause irreversible damage to the glacial valley of Canal Roya in the Aragon region.
The EU’s 724 billion-euro ($763-billion) COVID-19 recovery program is supposed to support member states to “build a greener, more digital and more resilient future,” with stringent rules on impacting biodiversity, water use and carbon emissions.
The activists argue the union of the resorts of Astún-Candanchú and Formigal with an 8-kilometer-long cable car link violates these conditions. The plan was approved by Spain’s tourism ministry in December.
“This is a space of enormous environmental quality, and serves as a green corridor for the passage of animal populations such as the bearded vulture or other flora and fauna characteristic of the area,” said Marina Gros, spokesperson for Ecologists in Action.
Gros criticized the “opacity” of the Aragon regional government in its management of pandemic recovery funds, and alleged hypocrisy on the part of Spain’s central government for approving the project, given its recent trumpeting of its green credentials.
“These funds supposedly for sustainable tourism are being dedicated more than 80% to only four projects (in Aragon) based on snow-based tourism,” she said. After trying and failing to stop the project domestically, Ecologists in Action have joined with groups including Greenpeace and WWF to tackle the issue in Brussels.
A petition to stop the cable car project from going ahead has so far garnered almost 50,000 signatures, making it one of the most popular on the Change.org website.
Critics argue that skiing is neither financially nor environmentally sustainable in the rapidly warming mountain range. Many resorts draw water from nearby streams or reservoirs and typically use compressed air and electricity to blow snow into piles on the slopes when it’s cold.
Spanish scientists said in 2021 that the Pyrenees’ glaciers will likely be reduced to ice patches in the next two decades due to climate change. The mountains have suffered a higher-than-average 1.5-degree-Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) overall temperature increase since the 19th century.
Spain was one of the first EU countries to apply for and receive funds from the EU pandemic recovery fund, and stands to be among its main beneficiaries. It is set to receive a total of 140 billion euros, half in direct transfers, half in loans.
The European Court of Auditors warned this month of insufficient checks and safeguards on how EU member countries spend the 724 billion euros ($763 billion) of pandemic recovery funds. A visiting EU Parliament delegation urged the Madrid government in February to be more transparent and flexible in its use of the funds and in providing public information about them. | 2023-03-20T15:37:28+00:00 | everythinglubbock.com | https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/international/activists-demand-eu-halts-green-funds-for-spain-ski-resort/ |
CANNES, France (AP) — Very few are capable of capturing people’s attention at the Cannes Film Festival like Liv Ullmann.
At 84, Ullmann is unabashed cinema royalty, and directors have flocked to greet her at this year’s festival. Pedro Almodóvar sought her out at a luncheon. Todd Haynes endeavored to get word to her that his latest film, “May December,” is inspired by “Persona,” the 1966 film that began her decade with Ingmar Bergman.
After meeting Ullmann, “The Zone of Interest” director Jonathan Glazer pressed his hand against his chest to catch his breath.
Ullmann has been coming to Cannes longer than she can remember. She’s pretty sure there’s a hotel suite somewhere named after her. But after being here in just about every capacity — with “Cries and Whispers” in 1973, her own “Faithless” in 2000, president of the jury in 2001 — she was in Cannes for a different reason. Dheeraj Akolkar’s documentary series, “Liv Ullmann: A Road Less Travelled,” played in the Cannes Classics section.
“I’ve never been here when someone else has made a movie about me or my life,” says Ullmann. “That makes it so different and maybe a little shameful, somehow. Because I’m an actress and a director.”
In an interview, the Norwegian actor, who lives in Boston, reflected on the passing of time and her halcyon decade with Bergman, one of cinema’s great collaborations. Ullmann starred in 10 of Bergman’s films, including “Scenes From a Marriage” and “Saraband,” and she directed two of his screenplays. “A Road Less Travelled” streams on Viaplay beginning June 22nd.
___
AP: Having been such a central part of arthouse heyday when filmmakers like Bergman, Godard and Truffaut were such a part of culture, do you ever lament that today’s most daring movies seem to reside less in the spotlight?
ULLMANN: They make incredible movies now. You know, I saw Cate Blanchett last year. What an actress. Art, it’s made today. But so many other films are also reflection of this time. And I mean, everything that won Oscars this year, I didn’t even understand them all. It doesn’t mean that there’s something wrong with them or there’s anything wrong with me.
I sometimes miss that there aren’t more of the movies we used to call classical. That’s about aging, too, maybe. What I’m most nervous for is that all these serials that are everywhere is removing us so far from what film really was. The art of the lighting, the art of the cinematographer, the art of the director — that kind of language. I like where I came from.
AP: How clearly do you remember meeting Bergman?
ULLMANN: Bibi Andersson, who was my best friend and we had done some movies together, I visited her in Sweden. We were walking on the street, and that’s where Ingmar came and spoke with her. He knew who I was because I had filmed a lot. He said, “Oh, well, I’d like you to be in one of my films.” And so maybe that’s why I also experienced everything (in film) more personally because it happened like that, Ingmar and me.
AP: He was immediately struck by you in that meeting, but what was your first impression of him?
ULLMANN: Oh, I was so impressed. I’m shy and then I was really shy. I never spoke. When he said he wanted me in one of his movies, I was shocked. Luckily, I didn’t have any lines in the movie. It’s strange he did that with me because I was 25. I was young. I see the movie as about him having reached middle age and wanting to stop life and go into himself. Then he picked me. I was him. And I think I was him in many of the movies. We were not alike each other but in certain ways we were. There is a reason he then used me continually until he died.
AP: How would you describe how deep your connection was?
ULLMANN: He said that. You and I are painfully connected. We lived together for five years but maybe the most wonderful connection was when we lived separately. We became more connected that way. I came to Fårö (the island he lived on) the night he died and he was already on his way.
AP: Did you share any words on his death bed?
ULLMANN: He was already on his way. One thing I did say. The last film we did together was “Saraband.” That’s about a woman who comes to her husband many years after it’s over. And he asks her, “Why did you come to me?” She says, “You called for me.” When I was sitting there on the bed, I said, “If you’re wondering why I’m here, you called for me.” He may have heard that, I don’t know.
AP: You’ve often been described as his “muse” but that doesn’t seem the right word for your collaboration.
ULLMANN: I don’t think I was a muse but you can say that. I did a lot of things that he wanted to do that he didn’t do. I traveled. I went into the world. I became famous. The strange thing with all these actors who he loved dearly, he didn’t like them to go. Bibi Andersson and Max von Sydow. But he thought it was fun with me. I don’t know why. When I did “A Doll’s House,” he came to New York. He hated to travel. He enjoyed what I did. There was so much I got to do because I wasn’t him, and maybe he would have loved to do. All his seriousness, of course that wasn’t me.
AP: You consider yourself at heart a theater actor, but what was your relationship to the camera? In the documentary, Blanchett says you were “looking up at the world sort of with a face of unconditional love.”
ULLMANN: If you’re really close to somebody you love, when you look at each other, you know everything about each other. I see the camera that way. I don’t have to be shy. You are an actor from the inside. Your soul, your your heart can come out if you want to show the camera the real truth. It tells what is under there. It’s nothing you can act or do Stanislavski about. It’s not your brain. Your brain is not the actor. It’s from here (points to heart). If you relax your body, the camera will take it.
___
Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP | 2023-05-23T01:13:39+00:00 | valleycentral.com | https://www.valleycentral.com/entertainment-news/ap-entertainment/ap-qa-liv-ullmann-cinema-royalty-and-major-cannes-draw-looks-back/ |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday proposed extending the life of the state’s last operating nuclear power plant by five to 10 years to maintain reliable power supplies in the climate change era.
The proposal to keep the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant running beyond a scheduled closing by 2025 gave new urgency to a decades-long fight over the seismic safety of the site. And critics depicted Newsom’s plan as a huge financial giveaway for plant operator Pacific Gas & Electric, while warning it would gut state environmental safeguards.
Newsom’s draft proposal includes a potential forgivable loan for PG&E for up to $1.4 billion and would require state agencies to act quickly to clear the way for the reactors to continue running.
The seaside plant located midway between Los Angeles and San Francisco produces 9% of the state’s electricity. The proposal says its continued operation beyond 2025 is “critical to ensure statewide energy system reliability” as climate change stresses the energy system.
“The governor has been clear for months about the potential need to extend the life of Diablo Canyon,” Newsom spokesman Anthony York said.
He added that Newsom has stressed the need to keep all options on the table to maintain reliable power and that “this proposal reflects the continued need to keep that flexibility.”
Newsom’s proposal amounts to an attempt to unspool a complex 2016 agreement among environmentalists, plant worker unions and the utility to close the plant by 2025. The joint decision also was endorsed by California utility regulators, the Legislature and then-Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown.
Environmental groups depicted the move as a “dangerous” betrayal of the 2016 pact.
“Legislators should reject it out of hand,” said a joint statement from Friends of the Earth, the Natural Resources Defense Council and Environment California.
Ralph Cavanagh of the Natural Resources Defense Council said the plan would provide sweeping exemptions from environmental rules, including the California Environmental Quality Act.
“This draft was prepared by someone with little understanding of California energy policy or history,” Cavanagh said.
David Weisman, legislative director of the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility advocacy group said Newsom’s blueprint would “give PG&E over $1 billion in loans at below the interest rate even state agencies charge among themselves, and it’s completely forgivable.”
PG&E’s service area is concentrated in Northern California and Weisman asked: “What are taxpayers in Southern California getting out of this?”
The draft proposal was released ahead of a California Energy Commission meeting on the state’s energy needs and the role that the nuclear plant could play in maintaining reliable service.
Newsom clearly wants to avoid a repeat of August 2020, when a record heat wave caused a surge in power use for air conditioning that overtaxed California’s electrical grid. That caused two consecutive nights of rolling blackouts for the state, affecting hundreds of thousands of residential and business customers.
The Newsom administration is pushing to expand clean energy, as the state aims to cut emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. Nuclear power doesn’t produce carbon pollution like fossil fuels, but leaves behind waste that can remain dangerously radioactive for centuries.
The California Legislature has less than three weeks to determine if it will endorse the plan and attempt to extend the life of the plant — a decision that would be made amid looming questions over the costs and earthquake safety risks.
The legislative session shuts down Aug. 31 — when all business is suspended — and only a rare special session called by Newsom could provide a longer period to consider the move.
The Democratic governor, who is seen as a possible future White House candidate, has urged PG&E for months to pursue a longer run beyond a scheduled closing by 2025, warning that the plant’s power is needed as the state transitions to solar, wind and other renewable sources of energy.
Those raising questions with Newsom include state Sen. John Laird, a Santa Cruz Democrat whose district includes the plant.
With an extended run, “Who pays, and is there fairness in who pays?” Laird asked in an interview. “There have been additional earthquake faults discovered near the plant, and seismic upgrades were never totally completed. Will they address that?”
Laird outlined other issues that include who would pay for maintenance that has been put off because the plant is scheduled to close by 2025, and whether there is time for PG&E to order and receive additional radioactive fuel — and casks to store spent fuel — to keep operating.
“We are under a tight timeframe,” Laird added. “That begs the question of could they do everything it needs to be extended by 2025?”
PG&E CEO Patricia “Patti” Poppe told investors in a call last month that state legislation would have to be enacted by September to open the way for the utility to reverse course.
PG&E, which has long said the plant is seismically safe, has not said much about whether it will push to extend operations beyond 2025.
The company is assessing that possibility while continuing to plan for closing and dismantling the plant “unless those actions are superseded by new state policies,” PG&E spokesperson Suzanne Hosn said in a statement.
Construction of the Diablo Canyon plant began in the 1960s and critics say potential shaking from nearby earthquake faults not recognized when the design was first approved could damage equipment and release radiation. One nearby fault was not discovered until 2008.
PG&E also would have to obtain a new operating license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to run the plant beyond 2025.
Newsom’s push for a longer run for the reactors doesn’t square easily with his assessment in 2016, when as lieutenant governor he supported the closure agreement as part of the State Lands Commission.
Seismic issues at the plant “are not insignificant concerns,” he said at the time. “This is not the preeminent site if you’re … concerned about seismic safety.” | 2022-08-13T12:04:33+00:00 | pix11.com | https://pix11.com/news/national-news/ap-national/california-governor-proposes-extending-nuclear-plants-life/ |
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — One person is dead following a house fire in Seymour according to the Seymour Volunteer Fire Department.
Seymour VFD shared that the call for the fire came in just before 4 a.m. Firefighters arrived at the house off Chapman Highway near Floyd’s Market in Seymour around 4:04 a.m. to find heavy fire and smoke. Crews made an interior attack to put out the flames. There are no hydrants in the area, which made fighting the fire difficult according to the fire department.
Crews found one victim dead inside the home.
The case has now been turned over to the Medical Examiner’s Office and the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is assisting. The victim’s identity and cause of death have not yet been released.
This is a developing story. Download the WATE 6 News app or sign up for our email alerts for updates.
The firefighting efforts blocked one lane of traffic on Chapman Highway and Reagan Branch Road. Units from Waldens Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Sevier County Fire & Rescue assisted in putting the fire out. One firefighter received a minor injury.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Seymour Volunteer Fire Department originally shared that the case had been turned over to the ME office and TBI, however, TBI is only assisting. | 2023-07-31T16:28:45+00:00 | wate.com | https://www.wate.com/news/sevier-county-news/1-dead-after-house-fire-off-of-chapman-hwy-in-seymour/ |
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Dec. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- King Insurance Partners ("King"), one of the fastest growing full-service insurance brokerage firms in the nation, announced today that Cove Insurance, Inc. ("Cove" or the "Company") has joined the King Insurance Partners team.
Founded in 1988, and located in North Palm Beach, FL, Cove is a full-service commercial and personal lines insurance agency, serving clients throughout Central and South Florida.
"We are excited about the opportunity to partner with King," said President of Cove Insurance, Charles "Randy" Higgins. "We have been approached by many firms, and King Insurance Partners was the obvious choice," said Deborah Higgins, Director of Cove Insurance.
"We are excited to welcome Cove to the King Insurance Partners team," said Malcolm Chad King, Chief Executive Officer of King Insurance. "This will further strengthen our service offerings, and our team, in South Florida."
Founded in 1974 and headquartered in Gainesville, Florida, King is a full-service insurance brokerage firm which provides a broad array of property & casualty and employee benefits solutions. Additional information can be found at www.king-insurance.com.
For further information contact:
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE King Insurance Partners | 2022-12-19T13:29:13+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/prnewswire/2022/12/19/king-insurance-partners-continues-expansion-with-cove-insurance-inc/ |
No. 9 Creighton seeks to move closer to a complete performance in its second game of the season on Thursday when it hosts North Dakota in Omaha, Neb.
The Bluejays scored 16 of the game’s final 19 points to post a 72-60 victory over scrappy St. Thomas-Minnesota on Monday in the season opener for both teams.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from South Dakota State transfer Baylor Scheierman ignited the surge for Creighton. Scheierman collected 11 points and 10 rebounds, Arthur Kaluma added 17 and eight and Ryan Kalkbrenner had eight and nine, respectively, in the victory.
Impressive numbers, but the Bluejays were only up against a Summit League member beginning its second season in Division I. Creighton also is carrying the burden of great expectations after being picked to finish first in the 2022-23 Big East Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
“I would’ve liked us to look a little bit more of a finished product (on Monday), but obviously we’re still growing, we’re still learning,” Bluejays coach Greg McDermott said.
“… There’s going to be a time where we’re playing a team somewhere in Big East play or later in this nonconference where we’re not making shots and you have to figure out a way to win. I hope we’ll able to look back on (Monday) and be able to learn from what we see in the film.”
What McDermott will see — presumably among other things — is his team made just 39.4 percent of its shots from the floor (26 of 66) and 23.5 percent from 3-point range (8 of 34).
“Shots weren’t falling for everyone tonight, so when that’s not happening you have to do other things to give your team energy and make winning plays,” said Scheierman, who finished with three made 3-pointers. “And I just made a few of those down the stretch that wasn’t scoring, but still important.”
Creighton (1-0) draws a second Summit League member in North Dakota, which also required a strong second-half performance to win its season opener.
The Fighting Hawks were tied at halftime and trailed Incarnate Word by four points with 11:07 to play before posting a 65-57 victory on Saturday in San Antonio, Texas.
Matt Norman drained a trio of 3-pointers to finish with a team-high 14 points against the Cardinals. Freshman B.J. Omot added 11 points despite shooting just 3-of-11 from the floor.
“I’m not going to lie, I had the nerves in the first half as you can see,” Omot said. “In the second half, I got a little comfortable, found my rhythm. It’s only up from here.”
North Dakota coach Paul Sather certainly hopes so. After all, the Fighting Hawks have an admittedly tough schedule ahead of them.
“We’ve got some really challenging games, and you throw in Creighton who is picked to win the Big East and Iowa State who made a great run last year in the (NCAA) Tournament,” Sather said. “I think we’re really challenging ourselves. There’s an opportunity there when you’re going against really good competition to grow and get better.
“And listen, if the outcome is going our way, awesome, but let’s keep the focus on getting better and improving.”
–Field Level Media | 2022-11-09T20:13:06+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/sports/ncaa-mens-basketball/no-9-creighton-squares-with-second-summit-league-challenger/ |
The lab technician looked disappointed but not surprised when I exited the restroom with an empty specimen cup and a sheepish look of shame.
“Nothing?” she asked with empathetic eyes.
“Nothing,” I replied with a shrug. “I’m so sorry.”
“That’s OK, it happens all the time,” she said.
I didn’t believe her. It was kind of her to say it anyway.
I visited her laboratory office in Valparaiso to get a drug test, wrongly presuming it would be the easiest test I’ve ever taken. The only substance to be found in my system is sugar, I figured. Despite my best efforts to produce a urine sample, nothing was coming out. Not. A. Drop.
“Dr. Oz says there’s always something in your kidneys,” the lab tech joked before directing me back to the lobby.
“Take your time but don’t leave the office,” she said firmly.
I returned to the lobby, only to get stared down by a smirking water cooler. Every time it gurgled, it sounded to me like mocking laughter. I started pounding down cups of water like a barfly before closing time.
On my third cup, I noticed a rack of magazines in the lobby. What are those for, I thought. Wrong test, wrong sample, wrong performance anxiety. Maybe I could find a story in one of those magazines on middle-aged men who piss off their prostate.
Another patient walked into the lab office, provided a urine sample, and returned to the lobby in just a couple of minutes. If urination-envy is a thing, I experienced it. I shrugged and drank my fourth cup of water.
I pulled out my phone and Googled “drug screens with urine tests.” It offered no tips about producing a sample. It was a given, I guess. I didn’t need any more pressure to do something I do routinely every day, and too often in the middle of the night.
After my fifth cup of liquid courage, and a silent pep talk, I returned to the lab room feeling waterlogged yet hopeful.
“Are you ready?” the lab tech asked.
“I think so,” I replied.
I walked into the restroom feeling bloated, like a 175-pound sponge dipped into a vat of water. A minute passed, then another minute. Nothing came out. Again. As the lab tech waited outside the door, I cursed at myself, trying to bully my bladder into peeing. There was no way I was coming out without a cup of urine in my hand.
Post Tribune
Finally, it happened. I felt like lighting up a cigarette and cuddling with the specimen cup. I exited the restroom with a proud smile.
“I knew you could do it,” the lab tech said with a playful chuckle.
I’ll bet she says that to all the patients who almost fail a drug test without any drugs being detected. Performance anxiety? You bet.
Oh, and the results? I tested positive — for embarrassment.
Thank you
Once again, I revealed too much about myself in this column space. This is what I have done for the past 16 years. I’ve shared my thoughts, my opinions, my observations, my storytelling, and my personal life. I’ve angered readers, amused them, and hopefully entertained or informed them along the way. This is my last column for the Post-Tribune.
Thank you for reading my work, and for sharing your own thoughts, opinions, and observations. I appreciate it more than you know. | 2022-06-17T19:29:37+00:00 | chicagotribune.com | https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/opinion/ct-ptb-davich-drug-test-urine-specimen-results-st-0619-20220617-zczvq5mvnbcnnhj6igajcnf5we-story.html |
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s president fled the country Wednesday, plunging a nation already reeling from economic chaos into more political turmoil. Protesters demanding a change in leadership then trained their ire on the prime minister and stormed his office.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his wife left aboard an air force plane bound for the Maldives, and he made his prime minister the acting president in his absence. That appeared to only further roil passions in the island nation, which has been gripped for months by an economic meltdown that has triggered severe shortages of food and fuel.
Thousands of protesters who wanted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to go had anticipated that he would be put in charge. They rallied outside his office compound, and some scaled the walls. The crowd roared its support for the people charging in and tossed water bottles to them.
Dozens could later be seen inside the office or standing on a rooftop terrace waving Sri Lanka’s flag — the latest in a series of takeovers of government buildings by demonstrators seeking a new government.
“We need both … to go home,” said Supun Eranga, a 28-year-old civil servant in the crowd. “Ranil couldn’t deliver what he promised during his two months, so he should quit. All Ranil did was try to protect the Rajapaksas.”
But Wickremesinghe appeared on television to reiterate that he would not leave until a new government was in place — though he urged the Parliament speaker to find a new prime minister agreeable to both the government and the opposition. It was not clear when that would happen, in part because the opposition is deeply fractured.
Although he fled, Rajapaksa has yet to officially resign, but the speaker of the parliament said the president assured him he would do so later in the day.
The political impasse only threatened to worsen the bankrupt nation’s economic collapse since the absence of an alternative government could delay a hoped-for bailout from the International Monetary Fund. In the meantime, the country is relying on aid from neighboring India and from China.
Police initially used tear gas to try to disperse the protesters outside the prime minister’s office but failed, and more and more marched down the lane toward the compound. As helicopters flew overhead, some demonstrators held up their middle fingers.
Eventually security forces appeared to give up, with some retreating from the area and others simply standing around the overrun compound. Inside the building, the mood was celebratory, as people sprawled on elegant sofas, watched TV and held mock meetings in wood-paneled conference rooms. Some wandered around as if touring a museum.
“We will cook here, eat here and live here. We will stay until (Wickremesinghe) hands over his resignation,” said Lahiru Ishara, 32, a supervisor at a supermarket in Colombo who has been a part of the protests since they kicked off in April. “There’s no other alternative.”
Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Shavendra Silva issued another call for calm Wednesday and asked the public to cooperate with security forces. Similar comments in recent days rankled opposition lawmakers, who insisted that civilian leaders would be the ones to find a solution.
Over the weekend, protesters seized the president’s home and office and the official residence of the prime minister following months of demonstrations that have all but dismantled the Rajapaksa family’s political dynasty, which ruled Sri Lanka for most of the past two decades.
Protesters accuse the president and his relatives of siphoning money from government coffers for years and Rajapaksa’s administration of hastening the country’s collapse by mismanaging the economy.
The family has denied the corruption allegations, but Rajapaksa acknowledged some of his policies contributed to the meltdown, which has left the island nation laden with debt and unable to pay for imports of basic necessities.
The shortages have sown despair among Sri Lanka’s 22 million people. The country’s rapid decline was all the more shocking because, before the recent crisis, the economy had been expanding, and a comfortable middle class was growing.
“Not only Gotabaya and Ranil, all 225 members of Parliament should go home. Because for the last few decades, family politics have ruined our country,” said Madusanka Perera, a laborer who came to Colombo from the city’s outskirts on the day protesters occupied the first government buildings. He lost his job, and his father, a driver, can’t work because of fuel shortages.
“I’m 29 years old — I should be having the best time of life, but instead I don’t have a job, no money and no life,” he said.
As the protests escalated Wednesday outside the prime minister’s compound, his office imposed a state of emergency that gives broader powers to the military and police and declared an immediate nationwide curfew. It was unclear what effect the curfew would have: Some ignored it, while many others rarely leave their homes anyway because of fuel shortages.
In his TV appearance, Wickremesinghe said he created a committee of police and military chiefs to restore order.
The air force earlier said in a statement that it provided an aircraft, with defense ministry approval, for the president and his wife to travel to the Maldives, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean known for exclusive tourist resorts. It said all immigration and customs laws were followed.
The whereabouts of other family members who had served in the government, including several who resigned their posts in recent months, were uncertain.
Sri Lankan presidents are protected from arrest while in power, and it is likely Rajapaksa planned his escape while he still had constitutional immunity. A corruption lawsuit against him in his former role as a defense official was withdrawn when he was elected president in 2019.
Assuming Rajapaksa resigns as planned, Sri Lankan lawmakers agreed to elect a new president on July 20 who will serve the remainder of Rajapaksa’s term, which ends in 2024. That person could potentially appoint a new prime minister, who would then have to be approved by Parliament.
“Gotabaya resigning is one problem solved — but there are so many more,” said Bhasura Wickremesinghe, a 24-year-old student of maritime electrical engineering, who is not related to the prime minister.
He complained that Sri Lankan politics have been dominated for years by “old politicians” who all need to go. “Politics needs to be treated like a job — you need to have qualifications that get you hired, not because of what your last name is,” he said, referring to the Rajapaksa family.
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Associated Press writer Bharatha Mallawarachi contributed to this report.
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Find more of AP’s Sri Lanka coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/sri-lanka | 2022-07-13T18:12:54+00:00 | upmatters.com | https://www.upmatters.com/news/international/ap-international/sri-lankan-protesters-storm-pms-office-amid-crisis/ |
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Friday is Arbor Day and various park district and forest preserves in Central Illinois are celebrating by highlighting tree-planting efforts and hosting observance activities.
The Champaign Park District said on its website that it plants 100 trees per year, most of which are to commemorate the birth of a child, honor a deceased loved one or recognize a special life moment. There are nearly 10,000 trees in the park district’s inventory, which contain the equivalent of 31 million pounds of carbon dioxide.
The Champaign County Forest Preserve said on Facebook that it recently planted 200 trees at Lake of the Woods. 75 of them were red oaks that were donated from Living Lands and waters as part of their Million Trees Project. The preserve is also planning another tree planting project that will take place later this year at Middle Fork River Forest Preserve.
The Urbana Park District celebrated the occasion by hosting students at Anita Purves Nature Center. Over in Springfield, the Springfield Park District hosted a tree planting, giveaway and recognition of students for their nature activities and projects. | 2023-04-29T00:37:50+00:00 | wcia.com | https://www.wcia.com/news/central-illinois-park-districts-forest-preserves-celebrate-arbor-day/ |
LONDON (AP) — Asked to sum up 2022 in a word, the public has chosen a phrase.
Oxford Dictionaries said Monday that “goblin mode” has been selected by online vote as its word of the year.
It defines the term as “a type of behavior which is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations.”
First seen on Twitter in 2009, “goblin mode” gained popularity in 2022 as people around the world emerged uncertainly from pandemic lockdowns.
“Given the year we’ve just experienced, ‘goblin mode’ resonates with all of us who are feeling a little overwhelmed at this point,” said Oxford Languages President Casper Grathwohl.
The word of the year is intended to reflect “the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of the past twelve months.” For the first time this year’s winning phrase was chosen by public vote, from among three finalists selected by Oxford Languages lexicographers: goblin mode, metaverse and the hashtag IStandWith.
Despite being relatively unknown offline, goblin mode was the overwhelming favorite, winning 93% of the more than 340,000 votes cast.
The choice is more evidence of a world unsettled after years of pandemic turmoil, and by the huge changes in behavior and politics brought by social media.
Last week Merriam-Webster announced that its word of the year is “gaslighting” — psychological manipulation intended to make a person question the validity of their own thoughts.
In 2021 the Oxford word of the year was “vax” and Merriam-Webster’s was “vaccine.” | 2022-12-06T05:34:29+00:00 | fox59.com | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/ap-international/ap-oxford-dictionaries-names-goblin-mode-its-word-of-the-year/ |
By Beijing Review reporter Li Nan
TIBET, China, May 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A red ribbon-shaped hand holding a cup of tea greets visitors of the Dangqun Teahouse in Thangoche Village, Qiongjie County in Tibet Autonomous Region. The logo represents the establishment's dual functions—serving tea and connecting villagers by engaging them in the governance of local affairs.
The teahouse began to welcome patrons on January 7, 2022, becoming the first assembly hall-style teahouse in Qiongjie, which falls under the jurisdiction of Shannan City. It has become a popular place for villagers to come have a cup of tea or a bowl of noodles and catch up with friends. It's also an ideal place for villagers to share and comment on the latest news, solve disputes and manage local affairs. "We freely air our views here," Baima Samzhub, a resident of Thangoche, told Lhasa-based news portal Xzxw.com.
"The teahouse is a good way to engage Tibetans in the governance of their own matters as these establishments play a key role in their daily life. It agrees with the local culture and conditions," Xu Wenhua, Deputy Dean of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told Beijing Review on May 23, when he attended the 2023 Forum on the Development of Xizang, China in Beijing. In the Chinese phonetic system, Tibet is romanized as Xizang.
The one-day forum, themed on Tibet's high-quality development and human rights protection, featured subforums respectively on topics such as whole-process people's democracy, high-quality development, as well as culture and ecological progress in the region.
Before Tibet's democratic reform in 1959, the region was ruled by feudal serfdom under theocracy for centuries. With their absolute control of land, the three major types of estate-holders, including government officials, nobles and upper-ranking lamas in monasteries, held the power of life, death and marriage over their serfs. Serfs were subjected to exploitation and oppression and were denied all human rights, not to mention democracy and the right to participate in social governance.
"The 'rule of a person' was the system in Tibet before its democratic reform," Roland Boer, Distinguished Professor at the School of Philosophy under Renmin University of China, said at the forum.
The turning point came in 1959. On March 28 of that year, the State Council announced that the local government of Tibet had been dissolved and through democratic reform, feudal serfdom under theocracy was abolished from that moment on, bringing fundamental changes to the region's social system. The democratic reform led to the emancipation of about 1 million serfs. They gained personal freedom and became masters of their new society. "Since 1959, as the rule of law has developed in China, Tibet, too, has experienced the development of the rule of law and an associated legal system," Boer said.
On December 20, 1959, the first session of the first Tibet regional committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) took place in Lhasa, marking the establishment of the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the CPC's leadership in Tibet. This system helps ensure that all Tibetans can voice their opinions and play roles in political life.
In September 1965, the First Session of the First People's Congress of Tibet Autonomous Region convened in Lhasa, marking the formal establishment of this system in the region. "The development of both electoral and consultative democracy in Tibet is a huge step forward," Boer said. Tibet stepped out of the dark times of "the rule of a person" and marched into the era of the "rule of law." "For Tibet, this is a complete contrast to its earlier system, in which one person and his coterie were masters over Tibet. Now, the people are the masters of the house," Boer added.
Boer believes the socialist rule of law entails the development of virtuous, apt laws. These good laws have been a feature of the significant development of the socialist rule of law in the last 30 years, seeking to express the core socialist values and developing laws that meet the people's ever-growing needs for a better life.
"In a region like Tibet, the last item has been particularly important in the significant achievement of abolishing absolute poverty by late 2019," Boer said. By that time, all 628,000 registered impoverished residents in the 74 counties and districts in Tibet had risen out of extreme poverty—a first in their history.
Tibet's economy is also making great strides. The region's GDP amounted to 57.587 billion yuan ($8.168 billion) in the first quarter of this year, a year-on-year increase of 8.2 percent and 3.7 percentage points higher than the national average, ranking first in the country.
"All these achievements demonstrate the strength of democracy in Tibet Autonomous Region which has ultimately enabled it to achieve the full welfare of its people through their direct participation," Giuseppe Yoffreda, Ambassador of Venezuela to China, said at the forum.
Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon
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SOURCE Beijing Review | 2023-05-29T12:16:29+00:00 | kcrg.com | https://www.kcrg.com/prnewswire/2023/05/29/how-people-tibet-autonomous-region-have-become-masters-their-house/ |
MLB Opening Week is here -- and if you blinked this offseason, you missed a lot.
With some of the game's most recognizable faces in new places, it's time to reset the rankings for 2023. Will newcomer Xander Bogaerts, plus a full year from Juan Soto and the return of Fernando Tatis Jr., mean a parade for the San Diego Padres? What will Justin Verlander's move from the Houston Astros to the New York Mets mean for the defending World Series champs and his new team in Queens? Did the Los Angeles Dodgers make the right move by not breaking the bank this winter? Will Aaron Judge captain the New York Yankees to their first title in 14 years?
We asked our baseball experts to rank every team from 1 to 30 going into the new season for our first MLB Power Rankings of the year, while ESPN MLB writers Bradford Doolittle, Alden Gonzalez and David Schoenfield teamed up to provide a rundown of what the season could bring, along with Doolittle's win-loss projections and playoff odds for all 30 teams.
1. Houston Astros
Projected record: 92-70 (78% playoff odds | 8.2% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: In this day and age, you don't usually find a defending champ with a young rotation, but that's the case with these Astros. Over the past couple of years, Gerrit Cole, Zack Greinke and Justin Verlander have left via free agency. What's left are no rotation members who are at least 30. And yet this might be one of the most dynamic rotations in baseball, led by the filthy duo of Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier, with Hunter Brown looming as a potential ace. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... The Astros become the first back-to-back World Series champions since the Yankees won three in a row from 1998 to 2000. Just as impressive would be a seventh consecutive trip to the American League Championship Series. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: Yordan Alvarez's age-25 season saw him post a 1.019 OPS and 37 home runs, good enough to finish third for the AL MVP. He might already be the game's best hitter; offense alone helped him reach 6.6 FanGraphs wins above replacement (fWAR) last season. If he contributes a little more on the defensive side, he should challenge the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout and Aaron Judge for the trophy. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: Alvarez chases the Triple Crown and leads the American League with 48 home runs but finishes second to Josh Bell in RBIs and second to Wander Franco in batting average. -- Schoenfield
2. San Diego Padres
Projected record: 93-69 (81% playoff odds | 8.7% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: Once Fernando Tatis Jr. returns to the lineup next month -- and with plenty to prove -- the Padres will have a to-die-for top of the lineup consisting of offseason prize Xander Bogaerts, Juan Soto, Tatis and Manny Machado. It's an older group and pretty expensive, but, in terms of sheer star power, we've never seen anything quite like this in San Diego. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... Downtown San Diego is packed with tens of thousands of Padres fans for a parade on Nov. 6. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: If you watched Soto's at-bats during the World Baseball Classic, you saw someone who was already locked in, clearly motivated to recover from a relatively down year that still saw him slash .242/.401/.452. Soto is not a .242 hitter. Not even close. And now that he has settled into a new environment, he'll prove, once again, that he is the best pure hitter on the planet and make a run at an MVP. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: Blake Snell has started slow and finished strong in both of his two seasons in San Diego, but this year he starts strong -- and starts the All-Star Game in his hometown of Seattle. -- Schoenfield
3. Atlanta Braves
Projected record: 94-68 (85% playoff odds | 10.5% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: In a winter that was more about shuffling than improving, the Braves have a new long-term catcher in Sean Murphy but lost franchise shortstop Dansby Swanson to the Cubs in free agency. After young infielders Vaughn Grissom and Braden Shewmake failed to win the job to replace Swanson in spring training, Atlanta will open the season with veteran Orlando Arcia at the spot after using him in a utility role the past couple of campaigns. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... They win the NL East and make it back to the World Series. Last year's team was better than the 2021 team that won it all, which shows the unpredictability of the playoffs, but the Braves' chances of winning it all improve if they win the division title and avoid that wild-card series. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: There are so many options to choose from on this team, but let's go with Ronald Acuna Jr. getting back to being ... Ronald Acuna Jr. His magical 2019 was followed by the COVID-19-shortened season, then a 2021 season cut short by a torn ACL and a 2022 season in which he clearly wasn't himself just yet. He's still just 25 years old, and the Braves say he's fully healthy now. At his best, Acuna is one of the most electric players in the sport -- and a prime MVP candidate. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: There have been 65 30-30 seasons in MLB history. Fifteen of those came from center fielders. Only six of those guys hit .300. Four of those six won a Gold Glove -- Willie Mays, Dale Murphy, Matt Kemp (!) and Jacoby Ellsbury. Michael Harris II becomes the fifth member of the 30/30/.300/CF/Gold Glove club. -- Schoenfield
4. New York Yankees
Projected record: 96-66 (88% playoff odds | 12.4% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: The Yankees should have a younger look this season after seeing a number of 30-something players leave via free agency. All eyes in spring training have been on Anthony Volpe, who might take over at shortstop as soon as Opening Day after the Yankees announced he will start the season with the team. Eyes have been on free agent prize Carlos Rodon, as well, but not for a great reason: The Yankees' splashiest addition has had a balky elbow. If he's healthy, he'll team up with Gerrit Cole for a super one-two punch atop the New York rotation. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... They win the World Series. Do we need to explain this? The Yankees haven't even been to a World Series since 2009. Bad luck, garbage can scandals, conspiracy theories, too many strikeouts, bad clutch hitting, not enough left-handed hitters, no heart, no Jeter, no Rivera, Aaron Boone can't manage his way out of a wet paper bag ... whatever the excuse or reasons, Yankees fans have multitudes of them. It's time to raise the trophy. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: What Aaron Judge did last season -- produce a .311/425/.686 slash line, draw 111 walks and still manage an AL-record 62 home runs -- would be amazing in any era. It seems impossible in this one, given how difficult hitting has become. Judge has been an MVP contender every time he has played a full season, and there's no reason that wouldn't be the case again in 2023. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: Judge follows up his 62-homer season with ... 47. And a bunch of other superlative statistics. He doesn't win the MVP Award, but he finishes third. -- Schoenfield
5. Los Angeles Dodgers
Projected record: 91-71 (75% playoff odds | 6.5% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: The Dodgers saw a mass exodus of veteran talent over the winter, a big-name group that ranged from a former MVP in Cody Bellinger to a possible future MVP in Trea Turner to a franchise icon in Justin Turner. This version of the Dodgers will look very different, but one thing that hasn't changed in Chavez Ravine: the expectation to win the World Series. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... They win an NL West title and a World Series championship. The Dodgers won the NL West in nine of the past 10 seasons, and the one season they didn't win it, they still won 106 games. Yes, they have more holes than they've had in a long time, but the lineup still has Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Will Smith and J.D. Martinez. The rotation still has Julio Urias, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin (although he won't be ready for Opening Day) and Noah Syndergaard, plus two of the top pitching prospects in the game in Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone. So, yeah, this season will be a success if it follows the path of other recent seasons. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: Perhaps being ranked ninth on our 2023 top 100 will anger Betts enough that he'll go out and win another MVP. At 30 years old, he remains arguably the best all-around position player in the sport, capable of beating teams with his glove, arm, bat and feet. There might not be a more natural athlete around. If you don't believe us, just wait until you see him play second base this year. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: For all the talk about the Padres' big four hitters, let's go with this: Freeman, Betts, Smith and Martinez will produce more runs than Tatis, Soto, Machado and Bogaerts. We'll use batting runs above average from Baseball-Reference. Check back in October. -- Schoenfield
6. New York Mets
Projected record: 90-72 (71% playoff odds | 5.6% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: The payroll? The Mets have spared no expense in building a roster that is long on star power and looks pretty deep as well. Yet there is a major void that opened up late in spring training when Edwin Diaz, the top current reliever in baseball, injured his knee during a postgame celebration at the WBC. Ouch. A bright, bright spotlight will now shine on relievers David Robertson, Adam Ottavino, Brooks Raley and, perhaps most of all, manager Buck Showalter when the season begins. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... Let's just say that owner Steve Cohen doesn't have any vacations to Hawaii planned for the first week of November. Remember to leave a couple of additional days for a ticker-tape parade, Steve! -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are basically fused at the hip at this point, for obvious reasons -- late in their careers, still pitching at the height of their powers, and now making up the best rotation tandem in the major leagues. Scherzer and Verlander boast six Cy Young Awards between them, including Verlander's from last season. They'll fall off at some point, but there have been scant signs of that thus far. Until they prove otherwise, they'll continue to vie for more Cy Youngs, including this season. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: With Diaz out, Robertson leads the team in saves. But David Bednar will be the closer when the Mets reach the postseason, after he comes over in a trade with the Pirates. -- Schoenfield
7. Philadelphia Phillies
Projected record: 89-73 (66% playoff odds | 4.7% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: In the wake of a major knee injury suffered late in spring training by slugger Rhys Hoskins, there is some fancy navigating ahead for second-year manager Rob Thomson. The Phillies' position group didn't seem particularly deep to begin with, and the project of holding down the fort until Bryce Harper returns later this season is now made that much harder. Can Thomson juggle the challenge of hanging with the Mets and Braves while keeping his veterans from wearing down by the time Harper returns? -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... The Phillies can match last year's exciting playoff run. They'll need to hang in there until Harper returns, and they can't afford any injuries to the rotation, but let's see if last October's momentum carries over into 2023. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: As he nears his 30s, Trea Turner really seems to be coming into his own offensively, providing a speed-power combination that might be rivaled only by Betts. With Harper and Hoskins out, Turner, signed to an 11-year, $300 million contract this offseason, will need to step up at the top of the lineup. The bigger bases and the limited pickoffs might give him just enough of an extra boost to finish within the top three in MVP voting for the first time. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: Did you watch the World Baseball Classic? If you did, this prediction hardly qualifies as courageous. It's about as bold as wearing shorts and a T-shirt the first day the temperature turns 60 degrees: Trea Turner for National League MVP. -- Schoenfield
8. Toronto Blue Jays
Projected record: 93-69 (80% playoff odds | 8.5% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: Ever since the Blue Jays rose back into the ranks of contenders in 2020, they've been trying to fill in the cracks to solidify a title-contending roster. This offseason saw the addition of Kevin Kiermaier and Daulton Varsho, along with the departure of Teoscar Hernandez, leaving Toronto with a team defense that could leap from average to elite. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... They win the AL East ... make it to the ALCS ... and make it to the World Series for the first time since Joe Carter had his big moment in 1993. After back-to-back seasons of 91 and 92 wins, the Jays have the talent and the expectations to think bigger than merely making the playoffs as a wild card. That's the minimum. Their World Series dreams might depend on Jose Berrios bouncing back and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. coming closer to his 2021 numbers, but the 1-2 punch of Kevin Gausman and Alek Manoah could be the best in the AL and gives them World Series dreams. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: Manoah is only 25, and yet he's already one of the game's best pitchers. He made that big a leap in his second full season, ultimately finishing third in AL Cy Young voting in 2022. He'll only be better now that he's a year older and will be backed by a better outfield defense -- especially since Manoah generated more weak contact than he did strikeouts last year. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: New outfielder Varsho goes 30-30, joining Shawn Green and Jose Cruz Jr. as the only Blue Jays to do it. Realistic after 27 home runs and 16 steals last year for Arizona? Look for Varsho's average and OBP to go up without the shift, giving him more opportunities to run. -- Schoenfield
9. St. Louis Cardinals
Projected record: 92-70 (81% playoff odds | 8.0% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: The second half of last season was dominated by the farewell tours of Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols. Now, those two Redbirds legends have indeed said farewell and a new era in St. Louis baseball is at hand. Most of the faces are familiar, including Molina's replacement behind the plate, former Cub Willson Contreras. The big difference is that Cardinals fans will no longer be rooting against him. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... They reach the World Series. The Cardinals seem content to win what has been a soft division in recent seasons, in addition to around 90 games. But they've also gone 1-9 in their past four playoff series, losing the wild-card series in 2020 and 2022, the wild-card game in 2021 and getting swept in the 2019 NLCS. Will they go any further in 2023? They do have some exciting prospects on the way, but if Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado slip from their high level of 2022, even the division title isn't a guarantee. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: Jordan Walker, the No. 14 prospect on Kiley McDaniel's Top 100, torched through spring training and showed he might be ready to handle major league pitching at the age of 20. The Cardinals have announced he will be on the Opening Day roster, now it is a matter of finding ways to get him in the lineup. Originally a third baseman who could transition to first, Walker has adjusted pretty well to the corner outfield, a necessity with Goldschmidt and Arenado on the roster. His power is off the charts. And we could see that translate to the big leagues soon enough to make a Rookie of the Year run. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: All aboard the Lars Nootbaar bandwagon! Nootbaar hits 30 home runs, makes the All-Star team and gets some down-ballot MVP votes. -- Schoenfield
10. Seattle Mariners
Projected record: 86-76 (49% playoff odds | 2.9% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: With multiple additions -- Kolten Wong to bolster the defense, Tommy LaStella to come off the bench and Teoscar Hernandez to anchor the lineup from the cleanup spot -- the Mariners have a more balanced and dynamic group of hitters who, as a collective, should play better team defense as well. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... The Mariners ended their long playoff drought last year and even tasted postseason victory with the wild-card win over Toronto. This year it means going ... ahh, let's just say it: One step further would be nice, but two steps further and reaching the first World Series in franchise history is what this team believes it can achieve. And if you can reach the World Series ... -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: Last season, Julio Rodriguez cracked the Opening Day roster at the age of 21 and became a star almost immediately (we say "almost" because, if you'll remember, April was a struggle). Rodriguez wowed the fans of Seattle in the batter's box, on the bases and in the field, and his smile and his charisma made him a marketer's dream. What will Year 2 bring? It's fun to simply consider the possibilities. The reigning Rookie of the Year should elevate himself to MVP status. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: We could predict Luis Castillo to win the Cy Young Award or George Kirby to start the All-Star Game (which is in Seattle) or Logan Gilbert to win 20 games, but it's more fun to do something with Julio. Let's say he finishes second in the MVP voting (Ohtani goes chalk) and does so while hitting 40 home runs. He hit 27 over his final 99 games last year -- a 41-homer pace over 150 games. Only 10 players age 22 or younger have hit 40 home runs in a season (Eddie Mathews did it twice). Three have done it since 2019: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ronald Acuna Jr. And guess what? Julio's dad's name is ... Julio Sr. So that makes him a Junior as well. -- Schoenfield
11. Tampa Bay Rays
Projected record: 89-73 (65% playoff odds | 4.8% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: A team known for roster churn had relatively little of it over the winter, but the Rays did bid farewell to longtime center fielder Kiermaier in their ongoing bid to keep as many in-their-prime producers in key spots as possible. Beyond that, the hope is for better health from stalwarts like Brandon Lowe, Pete Fairbanks and Tyler Glasnow. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... They return to the postseason for the fifth consecutive season. That might be a tough ask in the AL East and with the improved teams in the AL West, but the AL East has had three playoff teams each of the past two seasons. Going all the way? The lineup seems to lack that superstar linchpin, although maybe it gets there if Lowe hits again and Wander Franco improves. But the Rays hit .211 in their playoff loss to the Red Sox in 2021 and scored one run in two games in their wild-card loss to the Guardians in 2022. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: Shane McClanahan was the AL's best pitcher in the first half last year, posting a 1.71 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 110 2/3 innings. He faded down the stretch, then worked on his body over the offseason in hopes that that will never happen again. He should be a prime Cy Young contender in 2023. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: All the projection systems have Franco hitting .280-something -- barely above the .277 mark from last season, when injuries affected his playing time and perhaps his production. Let's call for a breakout season and predict a batting title with a .321 average. -- Schoenfield
12. Cleveland Guardians
Projected record: 91-71 (74% playoff odds | 6.9% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: The youthful, scrapping Guardians you saw in last year's playoffs return largely intact, albeit a year older, wiser and perhaps more confident after 2022's surprising success. There's a new presence in the middle of the order, as switch-hitter Josh Bell signed as a free agent to help a lineup long on speed and contact ability crystallize into a more dynamic form. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... The Guardians return every decent player from a 92-win team, and while not prohibitive favorites in the AL Central, they are certainly favored to win it again. That means they should absolutely have World Series aspirations. Whether they have enough power to get there is the big question. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: There might not be a more consistent all-around player in the sport than the criminally underrated Jose Ramirez, who has finished within the top six in AL MVP voting five of the past six years. He's a complete hitter, a superb defender and a dangerous base stealer without the flashy tools. He should once again be good for a batting average around .300, 20-plus home runs, 20-plus stolen bases, triple-digit RBIs and somewhere in the neighborhood of 7.0 fWAR. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: The Guardians kind of have an old-school lineup, especially if Andres Gimenez bats second (as he should) rather than Amed Rosario. That gives them two solid on-base guys without a ton of power at the top of the lineup, Ramirez batting third and Bell cleanup. Which means a ton of RBI opportunities for Bell. Put it this way: Cleveland's cleanup hitters were terrible last season (.693 OPS) and still drove in 95 runs. So Bell will lead the AL in RBIs. -- Schoenfield
13. Milwaukee Brewers
Projected record: 85-77 (49% playoff odds | 2.6% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: The front office is different, with Matt Arnold taking over at general manager for David Stearns, who stepped down. You wouldn't know it by Milwaukee's offseason moves, which had a similar flavor to past hot stoves. That's not a bad thing. Meanwhile, some anticipated position players are pushing through, with Brice Turang likely taking over at second, Garrett Mitchell in center and prospects like Sal Frelick and Jackson Chourio not far away. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... They can beat out the Cardinals for the NL Central title. The general consensus sees the Brewers taking a step back after missing the playoffs last year for the first time since 2017, but any team with Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff fronting the rotation has a puncher's chance. If they can clinch the division, that's a huge win. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: Burnes seemingly had a bit of a dip in production coming off his Cy Young Award in 2021, but he topped 200 innings for the first time, led the NL in strikeouts and still fashioned a 2.94 ERA in 2022. The 28-year-old right-hander remains one of the sport's best pitchers. And if his home run rate comes back to normal, he'll make another run at a Cy Young. Perhaps he'll find some added fuel in his anger toward the Brewers' arbitration process. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: The Brewers lead the NL in home runs. Hey, they were second a year ago (albeit 34 behind the Braves). William Contreras joins Rowdy Tellez and Willy Adames in the 30-homer club. Less bold: Burnes takes home his second Cy Young Award. Power and starting pitching? Don't overlook the Brewers. -- Schoenfield
14. Minnesota Twins
Projected record: 85-77 (48% playoff odds | 2.6% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: The Twins will have a rotation bolstered by the acquisition of Pablo Lopez and the return of Kenta Maeda. But perhaps the biggest change will be the identity of Minnesota's Gold Glove-caliber center fielder. At the start of the season, at least, it'll be trade acquisition Michael A. Taylor. Meanwhile, in another load management initiative, the Twins will make Byron Buxton the most athletic DH in the history of the game. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... They win the AL Central AND beat the Yankees in a playoff series. That's right, we're skipping right past "win a playoff game" (the Twins have lost an unfathomable 18 in a row) and going straight to winning a series. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: Carlos Correa is here to stay, on the heels of a massive free agent contract -- and a roller-coaster free agency -- that will make him the face of the Twins for the next ... well, six years at least. He's a feared hitter and a strong defender at a premium position who is still -- amazingly -- only 28 years old. And given the unique structure of his contract, he'll be extra motivated to put up MVP numbers. Correa has yet to finish within the top three in MVP voting. If he's healthy, that might change in 2023. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: Joe Ryan wins 17 games and finishes with a sub-3.00 ERA and in the top five of Cy Young voting. -- Schoenfield
15. Los Angeles Angels
Projected record: 79-83 (18% playoff odds | 0.7% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: The Angels' active roster to begin the season -- before any injuries -- looks deeper than in seasons past. There are more than enough quality arms for a six-man rotation. Additions to the position player group have given manager Phil Nevin more lineup flexibility and a better bench. The bullpen? Well, the rest of the roster looks good. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... Ohtani finishes the season in an Angels uniform ... and then starts the first game of a playoff series. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: We'll go with two here, because it's fitting: Ohtani and Trout -- our No. 1- and No. 2-ranked players, respectively, heading into the 2023 season -- both vying for the AL MVP. They boast nine top-two finishes for the AL MVP between them and look like the favorites to finish 1 and 2 this year, in whatever order. Ohtani is only getting better as a two-way player and could be in for a big year -- perhaps his biggest yet -- leading up to free agency. Trout is still only 31. And when healthy, he still looks like one of the greatest baseball players on the planet. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: Picking Ohtani to win the MVP isn't exactly as daring as, say, when the White Sox thought it was a good idea to wear shorts (that idea lasted three games). How about a Cy Young Award then? He finished fourth a year ago, and the issue is if he can pitch enough innings to merit stronger consideration. He pitched 166 last year -- but that was only nine less than Verlander threw in winning it and one less than Burnes threw when he won in 2021. So, a few more deep starts or maybe an extra one or two -- more likely if the Angels are in the playoff race -- and he can get to 175 or 180 innings and pull it off. -- Schoenfield
16. Texas Rangers
Projected record: 83-79 (37% playoff odds | 1.6% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: Not much -- except pretty much everything. The Rangers have a new brain trust with a Chris Young-led front office and a Hall of Fame-bound manager in Bruce Bochy, whose John Prine-sounding baritone will fit Texas like a weathered glove. And, also, there is an all-new rotation that the Rangers have purchased over the past year-plus, led by best-pitcher-on-the-planet-when-healthy Jacob deGrom. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... They sneak into the playoffs, which they last made in 2016. It's a big jump from 68 wins to the postseason, especially in a league where five teams won 90 games a year ago and seven did so in 2021, but the Rangers are aiming for something more than just a .500 finish considering the way they have spent the past two offseasons. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: DeGrom's five-year, $185 million free agent contract stunned a lot of people in the industry, given both his age and injury history. But it underscored an important point: When healthy, nobody is better. DeGrom followed his run of back-to-back Cy Young Awards in 2018 and 2019 with a 2.05 ERA and 352 strikeouts in 224 1/3 innings. The problem, of course, is that those innings took place over the course of three seasons. If he avoids the injured list, deGrom will undoubtedly contend for another Cy Young. Let's hope that's the case. We just want to see him out there. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: Hmm, we already predicted Shohei Ohtani to win the AL Cy Young Award, and doubling up is not allowed, so we'll stay away from deGrom (probably a wise decision). Let's instead go with Corey Seager and Marcus Semien becoming the first middle-infield duo in MLB history with 35 home runs apiece. The only team with even two 30-homer middle infielders was ... you'll never get it ... don't even try to guess ... the 2008 Marlins with Hanley Ramirez (33) and Dan Uggla (32). -- Schoenfield
17. Baltimore Orioles
Projected record: 74-88 (7% playoff odds | 0.1% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: The most significant difference between the Orioles on the first day of spring this year as opposed to last year is expectation. That'll happen when you jump from 52 wins in 2021 to 83 last season. The big question is whether expectations have outstripped the Orioles' rate of actual improvement. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... It includes a trip to the postseason. Many are expecting the Orioles to take a step back after perhaps not doing enough to address pitching concerns, but if rookies Gunnar Henderson and Grayson Rodriguez match Adley Rutschman's 2022 star rookie turn, they could surprise. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: Henderson entered the season as the No. 1 prospect on Kiley McDaniel's rankings and stands as the odds-on favorite to win the AL Rookie of the Year Award. That shouldn't surprise anyone. Henderson, 21, is an above-average defender at third base who brings plus power and an advanced feel for the strike zone. And he gets better every year. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: Rutschman will start the All-Star Game. That's not the bold prediction. This is: He leads the AL in on-base percentage. Aaron Judge led last year with a .425 mark, but Rutschman had a .399 OBP in the second half. -- Schoenfield
18. Chicago White Sox
Projected record: 83-79 (34% playoff odds | 1.4% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: The White Sox saw 2020 AL MVP Jose Abreu depart, and his absence leaves a production and leadership void that Chicago hopes to fill organically. Andrew Vaughn will get his first crack as an everyday first baseman, and power-hitting rookie Oscar Colas might end up as the regular in right. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... They win the AL Central and do some damage in the playoffs. This team has the same strengths as the one that won 93 games two years ago. With better health, the expectations for this year's team should be just as high, especially with several potential bounce-back candidates in Lucas Giolito, Yasmani Grandal and Yoan Moncada. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: It took a historic season from Justin Verlander to prevent Dylan Cease from winning the AL Cy Young Award last year. His surface numbers (2.20 ERA and 227 strikeouts, albeit with 78 walks) were just as good as his peripheral ones (he ranked within the top 10% in the sport in hard-hit rate, expected batting average and expected slugging percentage). His age-27 season could be a big one. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: Vaughn ranked in the 90th percentile in hard-hit rate last year. His swing-and-miss rate was in the 74th percentile. He's entering his age-25 season and has two years of major league experience. The skills are here to make a leap. He needs to get the ball in the air more often and to improve his chase rate. I predict he does that and hits .275 with 30 home runs. -- Schoenfield
19. Boston Red Sox
Projected record: 78-84 (17% playoff odds | 0.5% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: The middle infield is gone. The Red Sox lost Xander Bogaerts to free agency and Trevor Story to injury. The Red Sox's signing of Japanese outfielder Masataka Yoshida at least must look a lot more exciting to the hardened Boston fans after everyone watched him rake during the WBC. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... They make the playoffs. That should be the goal every year for this franchise, but the reality is the Red Sox have yo-yoed back and forth for the past decade between postseason glory and last-place ignominy. In the past 10 full seasons, they have two World Series titles -- and four last-place finishes. No other team operates like this. Throw in last place in 2020, and that's five basement finishes in 11 seasons. Many believe that's where the Sox are headed in 2023, but there's enough talent here to defy the experts of Red Sox Nation. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: Rafael Devers has never finished within the top 10 in MVP voting, and this should be the year that changes. He's the undisputed face of the franchise after signing a 10-year, $313.5 million extension. He is one of the sport's most well-rounded hitters, and he made some nice strides defensively last season. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: Yoshida proves the $90 million investment -- one that many in the game questioned -- worthwhile, at least in his first season, hitting .297 with a .385 OBP and scoring 100 runs. -- Schoenfield
20. Chicago Cubs
Projected record: 75-87 (12% playoff odds | 0.2% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: The Cubs added veteran Jameson Taillon to work at the front of a deep rotation. Still, the most stark changes are on the position-player side. Chicago remade its lineup with a half-dozen free agent signings, with the most notable being premier shortstop Dansby Swanson and 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger, who will look to get his career back on track at Wrigley Field. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... They get back over .500 and make a nice run at the playoffs while some of last season's younger players continue to grow -- guys like Justin Steele, Christopher Morel, Hayden Wesneski and Javier Assad. Matt Mervis could displace Eric Hosmer at first base during the season as well. What the Cubs really need for the future, however, is a couple of impact hitters to develop, so top prospects Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kevin Alcantara and Brennen Davis will need to show they'll be pounding on the big league door for 2024. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: Bellinger is too talented and still too young to have really fallen off so much. At some point you have to trust the sample size, though, and 1,143 plate appearances -- during which he slashed .203/.272/.376 in the three seasons that followed his MVP -- is quite the substantive one. But we've seen some flashes of greatness from Bellinger in that stretch, and the 27-year-old center fielder should be better in a new environment and with more time removed from shoulder surgery. He's a prime candidate for NL Comeback Player of the Year. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: The Cubs stay in the race until the final week of the season with the up-the-middle defense playing a key role. Swanson and Nico Hoerner win Gold Gloves as the Cubs climb from 10th in the NL in runs allowed into the top five. -- Schoenfield
21. Arizona Diamondbacks
Projected record: 78-84 (18% playoff odds | 0.4% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: Arizona has the look of a club that is coming together fast, a process aided by a roster-balancing offseason deal that sent Daulton Varsho to Toronto in exchange for the D-backs' catcher of the present and future, Gabriel Moreno. With 23-year-old Alek Thomas patrolling center field and Corbin Carroll flanking him as a leading NL Rookie of the Year candidate, the skies over Phoenix are growing even brighter. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... Just two years ago the Diamondbacks lost 110 games, including a remarkable 8-48 record in May and June, so the fact that we're already talking about them as a potential surprise playoff contender is a rapid improvement. It's probably a year too soon to view the D-backs as serious contenders when the top NL teams are so stacked, so let's say a .500 season with a young, exciting outfield leading the way is a reasonable goal. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: We could have easily gone with Zac Gallen for the NL Cy Young Award here given the strides he made in 2022, but Carroll is the favorite for the NL Rookie of the Year Award for obvious reasons. Carroll, 22, produced an .830 OPS in a 32-game major league sample last year -- near the end of his first full season of professional baseball, mind you -- and brings the type of all-around game that could make him the sport's best rookie in 2023. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: The Diamondbacks signed Carroll to an eight-year, $111 million extension ($134 million with the ninth-year option), so you know what they think about him. He's Kiley McDaniel's No. 2 overall prospect, so predicting him to win NL Rookie of the Year honors is an easy choice. But let's go with some big numbers as well: 20 home runs, 40 stolen bases and a .375 OBP. That could land him close to the top 10 of the MVP voting. -- Schoenfield
22. San Francisco Giants
Projected record: 80-82 (26% playoff odds | 0.8% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: Some of the names are different. Michael Conforto, Sean Manaea and Ross Stripling are in. Carlos Rodon and Evan Longoria are out. But the same dynamic -- depth, versatility, making every percentage play -- remains in effect. It can work, but it's a bit of a letdown after the Giants were attached to such superstar names as Aaron Judge and Carlos Correa over the winter. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... They win 90 games and make the playoffs. The Giants predictably fell off from their 107-win season in 2021, finishing .500. They lost Carlos Rodon and failed to land Judge or Correa. Mitch Haniger already has an oblique issue. Still, the Giants hope they can piece together a strong offense like they did in 2021 and Logan Webb leads a rotation that could be better than many expect (with rookie Kyle Harrison joining at some point). -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: Webb elevated to another level last year, going 15-9 with a 2.90 ERA in nearly 200 innings while sporting the fourth-lowest home run rate in the majors. Only Framber Valdez generated more ground balls than the sinker-heavy Webb, whose steady effectiveness could place him in the Cy Young discussion in 2023. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: David Villar leads the Giants in home runs (27) and RBIs (85). -- Schoenfield
23. Miami Marlins
Projected record: 81-81 (29% playoff odds | 1.1% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: Little by little, the Marlins are inching toward respectability with a roster built around a deep and potentially dynamic rotation. That remains the case even after Miami dealt Pablo Lopez to acquire contact maestro Luis Arraez to hit atop a new-look lineup that will also include veteran Jean Segura. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... They finish over .500. The Marlins haven't done that in a full season since 2009. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: Nobody faced more batters or compiled more innings last year, and yet very few prevented runs better than Sandy Alcantara, who led the majors with six complete games, fashioned a 2.28 ERA and won the NL Cy Young Award unanimously. Alcantara has gone from a reliable innings eater to existing on a different platform from his peers. The only thing that might prevent him from winning another Cy Young is the fact that he resides on a Marlins team that won't hit much and might not defend well, either. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: Three Marlins starting pitchers make the NL All-Star team. Alcantara is joined by Edward Cabrera and Jesus Luzardo. -- Schoenfield
24. Kansas City Royals
Projected record: 72-90 (5% playoff odds | 0.1% World Series odds)
The Royals have a new brain trust, with J.J. Picollo beginning his first full season as head of the front office and Matt Quatraro dropping some Rays-inspired wisdom in the dugout. Depth and versatility are the new buzzwords in Kansas City, but the problem of turning its top youngsters into big-time producers -- Bobby Witt Jr., especially -- remains. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... They finish over .500. That would be a huge improvement from 65 wins. That feels like a long shot based on this roster and preseason projections, but it's time for some of the young Royals to get better. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: Brady Singer made a really nice jump last year, reducing his walks, compiling more innings and significantly lowering both his ERA (4.91 to 3.23) and his WHIP (1.55 to 1.14). He can make another leap in his age-26 season and vault into the Cy Young conversation. But he'll need to limit hard contact. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: Witt Jr. goes 50/30 -- 50 stolen bases and 30 home runs. The only two players to do that: Eric Davis in 1987 and Barry Bonds in 1990. -- Schoenfield
25. Pittsburgh Pirates
Projected record: 71-91 (4% playoff odds | 0.0% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: The rebuilding Pirates added 105 years of human existence to form a new middle of the lineup consisting of Andrew McCutchen, Carlos Santana and Ji-Man Choi. As the NL MVP winner for the Pirates a decade ago, McCutchen, to quote "Field of Dreams," will remind Bucs fans of all that once was good, and it could be again. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... Oneil Cruz highlight videos are hotter than the Carolina Reaper. Roansy Contreras makes 32 starts and finishes with an ERA under 3.50. Endy Rodriguez finishes the year in Pittsburgh while Termarr Johnson and Henry Davis finish it as two of the top 10 prospects in the game. Bryan Reynolds signs a long-term extension to remain with the Pirates. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: He's already one of the game's best defensive third basemen, up there with Nolan Arenado and Manny Machado. And the new rules should help him become even more of a force on the bases. Hayes, barely 26, added some muscle over the offseason that he hopes will translate to more power. If that element of his game emerges, he could make an MVP run in the not-too-distant future. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: Reynolds doesn't sign an extension and instead gets traded to the Dodgers for a package that includes slugging outfield prospect Andy Pages and pitcher Nick Nastrini. -- Schoenfield
26. Detroit Tigers
Projected record: 66-96 (1% playoff odds | 0.0% World Series odds) -- Schoenfield
What's changed most since we saw them last: After last season's flop, new Tigers GM Scott Harris took a measured approach to the winter, focusing on stabilizing Detroit's young, injury-riddled rotation with the addition of Michael Lorenzen and the re-addition of Matthew Boyd. Beyond that, the focus in Detroit is on turning young major leaguers like Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene into the stars the Tigers need them to become. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... The Tigers can do better than last year's 66-96 record. Yes, that's a low bar, but the Tigers are entering Phase I of Rebuild II. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: The Tigers don't need Javier Baez to contend for an MVP. But they need him to be a lot better. In his first season of a six-year, $140 million contract, Baez struck out nearly 150 times and put up an on-base percentage below .300. His OPS, .671, was 112 points lower than his career mark heading into the year. Baez was still solid defensively, but the Tigers need him to be an anchor for their lineup. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: The Tigers' best hitter will not be hopeful sophomore stars Torkelson or Greene, but rookie DH/OF Kerry Carpenter, who hit .313 with 30 home runs in the minors last season. -- Schoenfield
27. Colorado Rockies
Projected record: 60-102 (0% playoff odds | 0.0% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: Colorado's strategy of taking what the free agent market gave it was undermined by a gut-punch shoulder injury to arguably its best player, infielder Brendan Rodgers. There is at least an interesting apparent changing of the guard at shortstop, where two-way prospect Ezequiel Tovar looks ready to take over. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... Let's turn this one over to Rockies owner Dick Monfort: "We have a lot of talent, a lot of good things are going to happen, and I think they are going to start happening this year, and I think we can play .500 ball," he said at an event in January. Good luck! -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: Tovar, 21, is a skilled defender at shortstop who showed promising offensive signs while graduating to the major leagues last season. He brings solid bat-to-ball skills that will only be elevated (Get it?) while playing in Coors Field. It's no surprise Tovar enters 2023 as one of the front-runners for the NL Rookie of the Year Award. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: The Rockies finish with the worst record in the majors. But Kris Bryant wins the batting title! -- Schoenfield
28. Cincinnati Reds
Projected record: 70-92 (3% playoff odds | 0.1% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: The Reds appear to be biding their time with a lineup still anchored by future Hall of Famer Joey Votto and 2021 NL Rookie of the Year Jonathan India. Most eyes will be on the rotation anyway, where Cincinnati hopes Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft can takes steps toward becoming an elite big three. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... They lose fewer than 90 games. The Reds didn't do much to address a 100-loss team, and most of their impressive group of infield prospects will remain in the minors. The one they would love to see make an impact, at least in the second half, is Elly De La Cruz. He has just 47 games above A-ball, but Kiley McDaniel's No. 9 overall prospect has ridiculous tools and a huge ceiling if it comes together. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: A 6-foot-5 shortstop with 70-grade power, speed and arm strength, who slashed .945 in high A and Double-A last year? Let's hope De La Cruz comes up early enough to make a real run at the NL Rookie of the Year Award -- mostly because it's going to be so much fun to watch him play. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: Hunter Greene leads the NL in strikeouts. Let's see. Corbin Burnes led last year with 243 and Zack Wheeler led in 2021 with 247, so we're talking 240-plus K's. Greene averaged 11.7 K's per nine in 125.2 innings last year, making 24 starts. If he can get to 175 innings and average 12.4 K's per nine, that's 241 strikeouts. -- Schoenfield
29. Oakland Athletics
Projected record: 64-98 (0% playoff odds | 0.0% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: The A's added veterans Shintaro Fujinami and Drew Rucinski to stabilize a rotation that will work in front of what appears to be a serviceable bullpen. That's good because this group doesn't figure to score many runs. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... The plumbing holds up? They draw a million fans? They score 600 runs? They hit higher than .216? Hey, the A's had a nice run from 2018 to 2021 with the fifth-most wins in the majors. It's going to take a couple more years -- at least -- to get back to that level. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: Ken Waldichuk, acquired in the August trade that sent Frankie Montas to the Yankees, maintained rookie eligibility for the 2023 season and could challenge for the award despite what seems like a deep field. Waldichuk, 25, is a left-hander with a funky delivery who brings advanced feel and command and what looks like a legitimate four-pitch mix. He won't blow you away with his radar-gun readings, but he's more polished than most rookies. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: Esteury Ruiz leads the majors with 70 stolen bases, the first player to reach that total since Jacoby Ellsbury in 2009. That's exciting, but the best news is it will mean he hits well enough to remain in the lineup on an everyday basis. -- Schoenfield
30. Washington Nationals
Projected record: 64-98 (1% playoff odds | 0.0% World Series odds)
What's changed most since we saw them last: The rebuild continues in D.C., which should keep Nats fans focused on the most dynamic young players on the roster. That group includes catcher Keibert Ruiz, who has already signed on for the long haul with Washington; shortstop C.J. Abrams, whose speed could really be featured under the new set of MLB rules; and lefty starter MacKenzie Gore. -- Doolittle
The season will be a success if ... Some of the young players step up and prove themselves as foundation-type pieces for the next good Nationals team. MacKenzie Gore, Josiah Gray, Keibert Ruiz and CJ Abrams are the obvious four, but this extends down to the minor leagues, with Robert Hassell reaching the majors and high-end talents like James Wood, Elijah Green, Brady House and Cristhian Vaquero performing well. -- Schoenfield
Most likely 2023 award winner: The likes of Gore, Abrams, Ruiz and Gray have exceeded their rookie eligibility, while Cade Cavalli was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery and Robert Hassell has barely played above A-ball, so there aren't any foreseeable Rookie of the Year picks on this roster. And there definitely aren't any Cy Young or MVP hopefuls. So let's go a little off the board here -- Joey Meneses, a 30-year-old rookie last year, wins the Silver Slugger at DH. -- Gonzalez
One (realistic) bold prediction: Meneses proves his late-season assault on opposing pitchers was no fluke and hits .285 with 30 home runs -- but he ends the season with the Twins after a trade deadline deal. -- Schoenfield | 2023-03-28T12:21:10+00:00 | espn.com | https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/page/MLBmain_powerrankings/mlb-2023-season-preview-opening-day-rankings-playoff-odds-all-30-teams |
The company linked to the transportation of the lab monkeys involved in an accident near Danville a year ago has ceased operations.
That was confirmed by Jeffery Quebedeaux, owner of Quebedeaux’s Transport, and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) records.
The records show Quebedeaux’s was placed out of service on March 19 for failing to respond to a request for the performance of safety audit and its DOT’s number was deactivated on Sept. 15.
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had accused the Louisiana trucking company of illegally transporting monkeys to laboratories.
The monkeys involved in the accident last Jan 21 at the Route 54/Interstate 80 accident were being transported for him but not by the company itself, Quebedeaux told PennLive.
The shutdown occurred after PETA says it submitted evidence to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that the company appeared to be illegally transporting hundreds of long-tailed macaques to laboratories.
However, in a LinkedIn post Quebedeaux stated: “I haven’t transported primates in over a year. All the forms and documentations were falsified in the transportation of these primates.”
PETA acknowledges DOT’s investigation into its complaint about Quebedeaux revealed a commercial monkey importer falsely listed the firm as the transport company on multiple shipments in 2022.
“Just for the record I want to let everybody know that I have done nothing wrong in the industry,” Quebedeaux’s LinkedIn post continued.
He added he will not in the future do anything wrong “because the feds have made me sign paperwork saying that I would never come back to the research field.”
His post also detailed his failed efforts over the past 18 months to open a research center in Bunkie, Louisiana.
In August, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries notified him his proposed facility was not exempt from the state’s prohibition on possession of nonhuman primates.
It also cited a letter from the USDA that stated what he proposed did not meet the definition of a research facility.
Quebedeaux planned to turn a former prison into a quarantine facility that would house hundreds of long-tailed macaques imported into the U.S. for use in laboratories, PETA claimed.
The 100 monkeys involved in the Danville area accident had arrived earlier in the day at New York’s JFK Airport from the island of Mauritus off the African coast.
They were being transported to CS Primates in Kaiser, Missouri, for quarantine in 37 crates stored in a trailer pulled by a pickup truck.
The accident occurred, according to state police, when the pickup driven by Cody M. Brooks of Keystone Heights, Florida, turned in front of a large dump truck.
The impact caused the crates to be strewn across the highway. One of them broke open allowing three of the primates to escape. They were caught and euthanized by state police.
A Montour County woman who stopped to assist at the accident scene required treatment after she came in contact with the monkeys.
Following the accident PETA, filed several complaints with government agencies over the treatment and transportation of monkeys in the U.S.
Kenya Airways, which had flown the monkeys into the U.S., has stopped transporting primates at PETA’s request.
More:
Pa. woman accused of not reporting a death and then stealing from the deceased
Pa. man charged with 1,000 counts of possession of child pornography | 2023-01-09T23:11:05+00:00 | pennlive.com | https://www.pennlive.com/news/2023/01/company-linked-to-2022-pa-crash-involving-lab-monkeys-has-shut-down.html |
LARGO, Fla. (AP) — Police in Florida say a man died searching for Frisbees in a lake at a disc golf course where people are warned by signs to beware of alligators.
The unidentified man was looking for Frisbees and other discs in the water and “a gator was involved,” the Largo Police Department said in an email Tuesday. No other details were immediately released.
Police said gator trappers are responding to Taylor Lake, a part of the 153-acre (62-hectare) John S. Taylor Park in Largo, a suburb of St. Petersburg.
The park’s website notes that patrons can “discover the sport of disc golf on a course set in the natural beauty of this park.” The course is set along the lake, which has no-swimming signs posted along it.
Now, police are telling people to avoid the lake while the investigation continues.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | 2022-05-31T19:39:25+00:00 | wsvn.com | https://wsvn.com/news/man-found-dead-in-gator-filled-lake-near-disc-golf-course/ |
Cherokee County man sentenced to 30 years in prison for child molestation
CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - A man from Acworth will serve 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of child molestation, according to the Cherokee County district attorney’s office on Monday.
Alexander Eppsteiner, 27, had sexually abused a child since he was 7, a statement said. While investigating, the attorney’s office also discovered other incidents — including Eppsteiner taking and collecting pictures of boys in public restrooms and sharing explicit images with a 14-year-old boy in New York.
After prison, Eppsteiner will be on probation for life and have to register as a sex offender.
“We are proud of the brave boy who had the courage to tell his parents about the abuse, ensuring that this defendant is unable to hurt another child,” Cherokee County District Attorney Susan Treadaway said in the statement.
Copyright 2023 WANF. All rights reserved. | 2023-07-17T20:41:10+00:00 | atlantanewsfirst.com | https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2023/07/17/cherokee-county-man-sentenced-30-years-prison-child-molestation/ |
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico’s green chile season is in full swing as the aroma of fresh roasted peppers permeates the air, but growers and exporters in Mexico are just as busy and that’s causing a crunch at the international border.
“Chile is a huge crop for farmers in New Mexico so it is important that CBP agriculture specialists identify and stop any dangerous pests from making it into the state and potentially spreading,” acting Columbus Port Director Sam Jimenez said in a statement.
As part of “Operation Hot Chile,” Jimenez said agricultural inspectors are being assigned to Columbus from other locations to help with the increased traffic.
The inspectors will process around 100 chile shipments a day during the busiest part of the season. The Mexican import season is busiest between September and October, but can stretch as late as mid-December. Last year, they handled just under 11,000 shipments of red and green peppers from Mexico.
Imports have grown significantly each season, with inspectors seeing a nearly 25% jump since 2016. Officials are expecting continued growth this year.
Despite more imports, New Mexico farmers are seeing higher yields from their crops and the state’s reputation for growing what many have anointed as “the best green chile in the world” is expanding, said Travis Day, executive director of the New Mexico Chile Association.
The state’s chile harvest starts in late July, but gets cranking in August. Day spent Monday taste testing green chile cheeseburgers at the New Mexico State Fair while still recovering from the annual chile festival in Hatch, New Mexico, just a week ago where he talked to people from New York, Kansas and even Hawaii who flew in to get their fix.
“As an industry, we’re in a unique place where demand is the highest it’s ever been and it’s continuing to go up every year,” he said.
Yet, fewer acres of chile are being grown in New Mexico today due to labor pressures and dwindling irrigation supplies. While most commercial acreage is started from seed, some farmers have shifted back to transplanting seedlings to give their crops a jumpstart. Farmers are also working with engineers to develop a mechanical harvester.
So far this season, officials said New Mexico’s green chile harvest is more than 10 days ahead of schedule and experts are expecting between 55,000 and 60,000 tons of peppers to be harvested.
Stephanie Walker, a vegetable specialist at New Mexico State University, said growers in New Mexico have become adept at minimizing losses from disease issues spurred by heavy summer rains and that the yield from newer green chile varieties is increasing.
At the port of entry, all Mexican chile imports are subject to an X-ray scan. Then comes a physical inspection by a Customs and Border Protection specialist who searches for pests, diseases and any contaminated soil or noxious seeds.
If anything is found, digital images are sent to officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture who determine whether the shipment can be released or returned.
In 2021, the inspections resulted in 25 cases where shipments had to be returned to Mexico. | 2022-09-12T21:47:38+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/inspections-of-chile-imports-heat-up-at-new-mexico-border/2022/09/12/97d533b2-32e0-11ed-a0d6-415299bfebd5_story.html |
BBQ blowout at Empower Field
Saturday-Sunday. Barbecue fans will assemble on Saturday, May 27, at Empower Field at Mile High, for the 5th Annual Q BBQ Fest. The event features 3,000 square feet of grill space and no shortage of ribs (8,000 lbs) and brisket (5,000 lbs), with only slightly smaller amounts of chicken, sausage, beans and potato salad.
The event also includes live music, beverages, BBQ tutorials and demos, games and family activities. On Sunday, May 28, the Colorado Brewery Running Series teams up with Q BBQ Fest for a run-walk-jog 5k on the Empower Field grounds (registration includes admission to the festival).
Daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., then 4 p.m.-8 p.m. (closed 3-4 p.m. each day). 1701 Bryant St. in Denver. Tickets: $109-$145 for adults; $35 for ages 13-20; kids 12 and under are free. qbbqdenver.com or ticketmaster.com
Colorado Freedom Memorial turns 10
Saturday. There’s hardly a better time to celebrate The Colorado Freedom Memorial, and its 10th anniversary, than during Memorial Day weekend. The striking installation at 756 Telluride St. in Aurora honors active and veteran members of the military with various events 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, May 27.
The free lineup begins with an 8-10 a.m. pancake breakfast and performance by the Beverly Belles, and military displays by History Colorado, the Military Vehicle Collectors Club of Colorado and personal collections (throughout). The annual Colorado Remembers Ceremony features remarks by local dignitaries, a drill demonstration by the U.S. Air Force Drill Team from Joint Base Bolling in Washington D.C., a ceremonial laying of wreaths, a firing of a Howitzer by the Colorado Army National Guard, and more.
All events are free. Visit coloradofreedommemorial.com for more.
David Cross, Vail Comedy Festival
Through May 31. Alt-comedy godfather and go-to character actor David Cross (“Mr. Show,” “Arrested Development”) has a pair of shows coming up in Denver and Boulder this weekend, including at Englewood’s Gothic Theatre on Tuesday, May 30, and at Boulder’s Fox Theatre on Wednesday, May 31. Tickets to the acerbic, subversive comic’s “Worst Daddy in the World” tour stops are $39.50-$149.50 via axs.com.
Also this weekend: Vail Comedy Festival returns for its sophomore showing with an impressive variety of offerings compared to most stand-up events. Organizer and comic Mark Masters is bringing back not only the free, family-friendly programming (including street-magic shows) and an all-day comedy school, but the showcases, podcast recordings, and the smart booking that made last year’s inaugural event a success.
Featuring 31 local and national comics on 7 stages, Friday, May 26-Sunday, May 28. Full festival pass is $180, with VIP options. See the lineup and schedule at vailcomedyfestival.com. Note: Last year’s event sold out, so buy now.
Denver Arts Fest in Northfield
Saturday-Sunday. What once was a flat patch of runway-adjacent land in Northeast Denver has in recent years turned into a dense residential and commercial area — a.k.a. Northfield — which makes it an ideal spot for the latest Denver Arts Festival.
Celebrating its 24th year, the all-ages gathering boasts 150 booths of local artisans and artists, live music (Denver Concert Band, Wendy Woo and Wirewood Station), food, wine and beer, and a Kids Art Zone. About 50,000 people are expected over 2 days.
The festival runs 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, May 27, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, May 28, at the Conservatory Green in the Northfield neighborhoods of Central Park (8304 East 49th Place). See the full lineup of artists at denverartsfestival.com. | 2023-05-25T13:48:51+00:00 | denverpost.com | https://www.denverpost.com/2023/05/25/what-to-do-denver-colorado-bbq-fest-vail-comedy-memorial-day/ |
GENEVA (AP) — Host nation Qatar is set to play in the opening game of its own World Cup tournament after all — and on a stand-alone day being added to the schedule barely 100 days before kickoff.
Soccer’s marquee tournament is now set start one day earlier than originally scheduled seven years ago in a move that would allow Qatar to play Ecuador on Nov. 20, a person familiar with the proposal told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the matter.
The proposal will be put before a committee comprised of FIFA president Gianni Infantino and the heads of the six continental soccer bodies, the person said. A decision is expected this week.
According to a letter sent by FIFA this week and seen by the AP, the governing body is asking for approval from the continental soccer bodies by Thursday.
Qatar should now get an exclusive Sunday slot for its opening ceremony and World Cup debut at the 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium.
The World Cup is currently scheduled to start on Nov. 21, a Monday, based on a FIFA decision in 2015 after it agreed to push back the tournament to avoid the extreme desert heat in June and July. FIFA also got agreement for a shorter, 28-day program to minimize disruption to domestic soccer, especially in Europe, which will shut down ahead of the World Cup.
Recent World Cup tradition gave 2014 host Brazil and 2018 host Russia exclusive opening days to play their first opponents. But the tighter schedule in Qatar called for four games daily for the entire group stage — 48 games in 12 days.
At the tournament draw in Doha on April 1, the Netherlands, Senegal and Ecuador landed in Group A with Qatar. The Dutch and Senegal were allocated the 1 p.m. local time start and Qatar was to play Ecuador in the third game with an evening kickoff six hours later.
The proposal to create a 29-day tournament instead of 28 has been favored by Qatari officials and South American soccer body CONMEBOL, with talks also involving the Qatar and Ecuador soccer federations, the person told the AP.
FIFA acknowledged in its letter that changing the date, after tickets have been sold, would affect some traveling fans. However, FIFA said “any risk is sufficiently outweighed by the value and benefits of the proposal” commercially.
A Qatar-Ecuador game involves only a few players who are with European clubs. Several on the likely Ecuador roster play for clubs in Spain, the United States and Mexico, where leagues stop play ahead of the Nov. 12-13 weekend.
The schedule switch would have been tougher to agree to if Qatar was scheduled to open against the Netherlands, which has key members playing until Nov. 13 with clubs in England and Italy.
Because of the proposal, FIFA is expected to push back the Netherlands-Senegal from the lunchtime start to the early evening slot that would be vacated by Qatar.
While an opening game on a Sunday evening in Qatar should play well with viewers in Asia and Europe, in the United States it puts the World Cup in direct competition with NFL games. The U.S. soccer team plays its World Cup opener against Wales as the late Monday game in Qatar.
The 2022 World Cup is the first in the tournament’s 92-year history to be played outside of the traditional northern hemisphere summer. The previous 21 editions were all played between late-May and the end of July.
The Nov. 21-Dec. 18 tournament schedule was agreed to so European clubs could play on the Nov. 12-13 weekend before releasing their players to the 32 World Cup teams. Changing opening day should not alter the tournament rule that players must report from their clubs to national teams no later than Nov. 14, FIFA said in its letter.
The final will be played on Qatar’s National Day, a Sunday, allowing a full week for players to return to clubs before the Premier League plays its traditional Boxing Day games on Dec. 26.
Qatar original bid was made to host the tournament in June-July, promising innovative stadium cooling technology to overcome heat expected to reach 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) during the first World Cup held in the Middle East.
In December 2010, Qatar won a controversial bid contest beating the United States 14-8 in a final round of voting by the FIFA executive committee, a group later widely discredited by corruption scandals.
More than four years later, FIFA moved the tournament to be played on dates when temperatures should be around 25 to 30 degrees C (77 to 86 degrees F).
Now, a further seven years later, the dates are set to change again.
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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-08-11T05:57:10+00:00 | nwahomepage.com | https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/national-sports/fifa-looks-to-start-world-cup-in-qatar-1-day-earlier/ |
The Supreme Court’s decision Friday to overturn the constitutional right to abortion has only further fractured an already deep division between the states, where contentious legal battles are almost certain to erupt as legislatures and attorneys general grapple with the new landscape of abortion access.
Even before the opinion, lawmakers, activists and legal scholars were arguing over whether Republican-led states can enforce abortion bans beyond their borders and target providers, people who provide assistance and the women seeking abortions. That speculation could soon become reality as abortion opponents become more emboldened to try novel approaches to prevent women terminating a pregnancy.
In their dissent, the court’s liberal justices referenced the potential for the ruling to set off an era of legal chaos and peril for individuals.
They said the court’s majority was trying to “hide the geographically expansive effects” of a ruling that “invites a host of questions about interstate conflicts.” Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan said the decision will put the court at the center of what some scholars have called the coming “interjurisdictional abortion wars.”
“Can a State bar women from traveling to another State to obtain an abortion?” they wrote. “Can a State prohibit advertising out-of-state abortions or helping women get to out-of-state providers? Can a State interfere with the mailing of drugs used for medication abortions?”
Professor Michael Steenson of the Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, predicted the legal landscape after the Supreme Court decision will be in “absolute chaos” and it will take years to sort out. But some Democratic states aren’t waiting to shield women who travel to get an abortion and ensure patients do not face penalties back home.
Washington is barring the state from acting against doctors who perform such abortions, while California and Illinois are considering similar measures. On Friday, the Democratic governors of California, Oregon and Washington announced a joint commitment to defend abortion access.
“We will continue to protect patients from any state who comes to our state for abortion care,” Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said. “We will resist intrusions by out of state prosecutors, law enforcement or vigilantes trying to investigate patients receiving services in our states.”
In Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican who has said he supports a woman’s right to choose, signed an executive order prohibiting state agencies from assisting another state’s investigation into people or businesses that receive or deliver reproductive health services that are legal in Massachusetts. The order also protects Massachusetts providers who deliver reproductive health care services from being disciplined based on potential out-of-state charges.
Connecticut enacted a law earlier this year to stymie lawsuits or criminal cases from other states over legal abortions for out-of-state residents.
“This decision carves our nation in two — states that trust the personal and professional decisions of women and doctors, and states where craven politicians control and criminalize those choices,” said state Attorney General William Tong, a Democrat. “Connecticut is a safe state, but we will need to be vigilant, aggressive and proactive to defend our rights.”
In Minnesota, Attorney General Keith Ellison has already vowed to protect abortion rights as outlined in the state constitution. But he said “things will be much tougher” in states bordering Minnesota, some of which will have total bans on abortion. Some states such as Texas allow private citizens to sue people who assist in abortions. Ellison said he fears it might lead to lawsuits against those who help women traveling to the state for abortions, but he promised he would fight any possible extraditions.
Half the states are expected to outlaw most abortions with Roe falling, according to the abortion-rights think tank Guttmacher Institute. Twenty-two states, largely in the South and Midwest, already had total or near-total bans on the books. Aside from Texas, all those had been blocked in the courts before Friday’s decision.
Once that was issued, several Republican state attorneys general, including those in Ohio and Tennessee, asked the courts to lift stays that has blocked previously passed abortion restrictions in their states.
Separately, 13 other states had enacted so-called trigger laws that immediately ban abortion with Roe overturned. Oklahoma began the process of invoking its trigger law Friday, and other states, including Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia, said they were beginning work on trigger bans. Just moments after the court’s decision was announced, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republcan, said he will seek legislation to ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, but it’s unclear how such a bill would fare in a very closely divided legislature.
Some legal experts — and even some anti-abortion lawmakers — argue that states simply can’t control what goes on beyond their borders. Buying and smoking marijuana is one example: Kansas waits until residents return from “pot vacations” in Colorado to pull them over.
Some abortion opponents argue that it’s better to focus on providing help to pregnant women and make adoption less expensive so they don’t choose abortion. Texas recently allocated $100 million for such services.
“I want the Legislature to continue to focus on providing and promoting these alternatives to abortion,” said Joe Pojman, executive director of the Texas Alliance for Life.
The Family Council, a conservative group in Arkansas that has advocated for numerous abortion bans, hailed the court’s decision but said lawmakers still have work to do. The group is not pushing to prevent women from getting abortions in other states, said Jerry Cox, the group’s president. Instead, he said Friday they will focus on helping women with unplanned pregnancies.
“We need to create a culture of life that spreads all across the state of Arkansas so that those women never feel that abortion is their only choice,” Cox said.
Others warn that the Supreme Court’s decision will encourage states to push extreme policies in their attempt to criminalize abortion. Louisiana lawmakers already have floated a proposal calling abortion homicide, which would have opened up women to murder charges if they got an abortion. The proposal was eventually spiked, and there is no immediate indication that Republicans in other states are interested in taking up similar legislation.
In New Hampshire, the Republican-controlled Legislature rejected a bill this year that would have given potential fathers the right to veto a woman’s abortion. Though legislative leaders there say they don’t expect the state to further restrict abortion, lawmakers who have filed bills in the past are expected to try again.
“They push the envelope,” said Jessica Arons, the American Civil Liberties Union’s senior lawyer for reproductive freedom. “They’re always trying to propose things that in the moment seem outrageous or fringe, but the more they push it over time, it becomes normalized.”
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Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas; Kruesi from Nashville, Tennessee; and Ramer from Concord, New Hampshire. Associated Press writers Adam Beam in Sacramento, California; Andrew DeMilo in Little Rock, Arkansas; Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut; Samantha Hendrickson and Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio; Steve Karnowski in St. Paul, Minnesota; Steve LeBlanc in Boston; and Rebecca Santana in New Orleans contributed to this report.
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For AP’s full coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, go to https://apnews.com/hub/abortion | 2022-06-25T03:28:53+00:00 | ourquadcities.com | https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/national-news/legal-battles-likely-as-divided-states-grapple-with-abortion/ |
-- Kapur's Track Record and Operational Expertise Positions Honeywell for the Next Level of Outperformance Versus Peers
-- Under Adamczyk's Leadership, Honeywell Continued to Outperform Market and Peers, Growing Market Capitalization from $88 Billion in 2016 to $145 Billion in 2022, a 9% CAGR
-- Thoughtful Succession Plan Positions Honeywell for Seamless Leadership Transition
CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) today announced that Vimal Kapur, President and Chief Operating Officer, will succeed Darius Adamczyk as Chief Executive Officer on June 1, 2023. Adamczyk, who became Chief Operating Officer in 2016, Chief Executive Officer in 2017 and Chairman in 2018, will continue to serve as Executive Chairman of Honeywell. Kapur was also appointed to the company's board of directors effective March 13, 2023. These moves ensure a seamless leadership transition and position Honeywell for continued outperformance versus peers.
"Vimal is absolutely the right person to lead our company to the next level of growth and stellar performance," Adamczyk said. "Vimal brings 34 years of deep knowledge about our businesses, end markets and customer needs. His ability to drive our key sustainability and digitalization strategic initiatives, along with his advancement of our world class operating system – Honeywell Accelerator – throughout the organization, gives him an outstanding platform to drive continued outperformance for our shareowners. Honeywell's next operational evolution, under Vimal's leadership, will be the incorporation of Accelerator and standardization of global business models to enable maximal performance in each business segment."
"Vimal is also uniquely capable to drive Honeywell's sustainable innovation and solidify our position to lead in the energy transition. Now more than ever, our customers need our solutions to help their businesses be more efficient and more sustainable, and under Vimal's leadership, Honeywell's sustainability technologies will help our customers achieve their goals, today and into the future."
"In his role as COO, Vimal has driven continued operational execution on our proven value creation framework, all of which is underpinned by Accelerator. We have also made significant strides in advancing our digital solutions – both to enhance our own internal operations and decision-making and in support of our customers to benefit their digitization transformations. The rigor of our digital solutions is a real differentiator for Honeywell and will enable us to achieve consistent and sustained outperformance."
"Vimal has demonstrated that he can nimbly evolve business strategies to fit any circumstances – and we have seen that most dramatically in the challenges of the last few years. He is technically and analytically strong with a bias for results and gets the most out of people and processes. In his role as President and Chief Operating Officer, Vimal has enabled our businesses to develop new solutions to help our customers drive their sustainability transformations and accelerate their digital capability. Vimal has a depth of operating experience that is unparalleled at Honeywell, having operated across our multiple business models, industries, regions and business cycles during his 34 years at Honeywell, including leading Performance Materials and Technologies (PMT) and Honeywell Building Technologies (HBT), and now in his COO role. He brings a high degree of energy and excitement about what the future holds -- from our innovation and breakthrough initiatives to our digitalization rigor and agile decision-making to our portfolio optimization. Our board and I have the utmost confidence that Vimal will be an outstanding CEO, leading our strategic plans and executing with rigor against our profitable growth plans."
"It is truly an honor to have the opportunity to serve as CEO of Honeywell under Darius' leadership and the leadership of our world class board of directors," Kapur said. "I have had the privilege to work in a variety of businesses and functions over my three decades with Honeywell. Our high-performance culture and exceptional talent set Honeywell apart from other companies, and our innovation inspires me every day by bringing technologies to market that impact the world in a positive way. Honeywell is playing a major role in making the world a better place, and I am both proud and humbled to take on the CEO role of this great company. I am looking forward to continuing to work with Darius and our board to continue to create value for our shareowners and our customers."
Kapur, 57, was named President and Chief Operating Officer in July of 2022, and has been leading the creation of new solutions to help customers drive their sustainability transformations and accelerate their digital transformation journeys. As COO, Kapur has also overseen the continued integration of Honeywell Accelerator across the organization and furthering its adoption as an operational system for everything that Honeywell does. Prior to his role as COO, Vimal served as President and CEO of PMT, an $11 billion global leader in the development of high-performance products and solutions including low global warming refrigerants; specialty films for healthcare and photovoltaic applications; leading technologies for the global refining and petrochemicals industry; and process solutions. Under Kapur's leadership as President and CEO of PMT, the business drove rapid growth in its sustainability portfolio including in circularity, energy evolution, environmental transformation, resiliency and accountability. This included launching innovative technologies and partnerships with partners in plastics recycling, introducing large scale renewable energy storage for wind and solar usage and helping our customers lower their carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency with our broad line of low global warming refrigerants.
Prior to leading PMT, Kapur served as President and CEO of HBT, a $6 billion global leader in building technology offerings, which improve energy performance, air quality and the safety and security of commercial buildings in more than ten million buildings worldwide. Under Kapur's leadership, the HBT business successfully launched the Healthy Building portfolio and expanded margins by ~200 basis points over three years.
Before leading HBT, Kapur also held the role of President of Honeywell Process Solutions, where he successfully led the business through the oil and gas downturn. Over a three-year period, Kapur was able to increase sales by 6%, expand margins by over 400 basis points and grow cash margins by 860 basis points to over 17%.
Prior to that, Kapur was Vice President and General Manager of the Advanced Solutions line of business, where he built the foundation of an outcome-driven software business, successfully integrating the Matrikon acquisition into Honeywell. Additionally, he has held several other leadership positions including Managing Director for Honeywell Automation India Limited. Kapur graduated from the Thapar Institute of Engineering in Patiala, India as an electronics engineer with a specialization in instrumentation.
Adamczyk, 57, was named COO in 2016, CEO in 2017 and Chairman and CEO in 2018, and has led Honeywell to significantly and consistently outperform peer companies, the S&P 500 and the XLI. Under Adamczyk's leadership, from 2016 through 2022, Honeywell's market capitalization grew from $88 billion to $145 billion, a 9% CAGR. Over that period, Honeywell's cumulative total shareholder return was 128% versus 109% for the S&P 500 and 100% for the XLI. The company's annualized dividend rate grew from $2.27 to $4.12, an increase of 82%, while its share price rose 99% over the same time frame.
"Darius has been a truly transformational leader throughout his tenure at Honeywell. He created our industrial software business, as well as architected and executed our differentiated value creation framework, including transformational strategies in digitalization, integrated supply chain, breakthrough innovation, enhanced SaaS offerings and ESG," said Scott Davis, Honeywell's Lead Director. "Under Darius' leadership, the strong portfolio, processes and culture that Darius and his team have put in place have taken Honeywell's performance standards to a new level. Our performance has consistently outperformed the markets, and we are well-positioned for growth acceleration with strong macro tailwinds in our core end markets and accretive gains from incremental breakthrough initiatives. Our heritage of innovation in sustainability solutions is a strength that sets Honeywell apart."
"We have been extremely pleased with the thoughtful leadership transition planning and execution undertaken by our board in the past. We deployed a similar playbook to ensure rigorous planning and development for this important transition," said Davis. "Our selection of Vimal to succeed Darius is a tribute to Darius' success as Chairman and CEO. We wanted to appoint a successor capable of building on the strong foundation Darius has built, while taking Honeywell to the next level of out-performance over the long run. In Vimal, we have a proven leader who can enhance Honeywell's growth rate and operational excellence and drive Honeywell to be the leader in industrial software and sustainability solutions. Darius and Vimal work exceedingly well together, and we are confident the transition will be seamless. As Executive Chairman, Darius will continue to play a vital role in direct engagement with customers, business development opportunities and leadership development. Vimal has exhibited the key leadership qualities and operational expertise that will allow him to thrive as Honeywell's next CEO, and Darius and the Board will do everything possible to support Vimal's success."
In his role as Executive Chairman, Adamczyk will be focused primarily on supporting customer relationships, business development, enterprise strategic planning, shaping the portfolio and global government relations.
Honeywell also announced today that Doug Wright, President and CEO of HBT, will leave the company to pursue another opportunity. Honeywell is pleased to announce the appointment of Billal Hammoud as President and CEO of HBT effective April 1, 2023. Hammoud is currently President of Honeywell's Smart Energy and Thermal Solutions business. Prior to rejoining Honeywell in 2021, Hammoud was President of ESAB Americas and Global Fabrication Solutions. Prior to ESAB, Hammoud was Vice President and General Manager of Honeywell Thermal Solutions. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and MBA from Wayne State University.
Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.
This release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are those that address activities, events or developments that management intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future. They are based on management's assumptions and assessments in light of past experience and trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other relevant factors. They are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ significantly from those envisaged by our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update or revise any of our forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law. Our forward-looking statements are also subject to risks and uncertainties, including the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, that can affect our performance in both the near- and long-term. In addition, no assurance can be given that any plan, initiative, projection, goal commitment, expectation, or prospect set forth in this release can or will be achieved. Any forward-looking plans described herein are not final and may be modified or abandoned at any time. We identify the principal risks and uncertainties that affect our performance in our Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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SOURCE Honeywell | 2023-03-14T11:27:03+00:00 | kxii.com | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/03/14/honeywell-names-34-year-honeywell-veteran-vimal-kapur-succeed-darius-adamczyk-ceo-june-1-2023-kapur-elected-companys-board-directors-adamczyk-serve-executive-chairman/ |
NEW YORK (WPIX) – Five hundred drones flew in a synchronized show Thursday night to celebrate 10 years of the popular cellphone game Candy Crush Saga.
The use of drone shows for advertising is a newer concept that is growing in popularity. The shows require weeks – sometimes months – of preparation, and a lot of paperwork.
“In New York City, they’re pretty strict,” said Preston Ward, the chief pilot for Sky Elements, a drone company based out of Texas. “There’s also the NYC city code that prohibits aircraft from launching in the city limits.”
Because of these restrictions, Thursday’s show launched from New Jersey and stayed over land because the Hudson River is restricted airspace.
“We are out of the way of all incoming stuff,” said Jeff Kaplan, the general manager of Pixie Drones, which produced the Candy Crush Saga show. “We contact the FAA. We contact all the flight towers so everybody knows. We contact the ferries. So land, air, sea – everyone knows what’s happening.”
The shows are also becoming more popular for holiday light shows and sporting events. “Everybody’s always blown away in person,” said Ward.
But it’s an experience that some prefer to skip. New York State Sen. Brad Hoylman introduced legislation — now awaiting Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature — that would prevent companies from commercializing New York’s public airspace.
“It would effectively ban tourist choppers from flying over Manhattan from New Jersey, as well as drones, by allowing the New York State attorney general to file nuisance claims against these operators,” said Hoylman. | 2022-11-04T16:47:44+00:00 | cbs42.com | https://www.cbs42.com/news/national/drone-show-lights-up-nyc-skyline-celebrating-candy-crush-saga/ |
NEW YORK — An electrical fire in a transformer that serves the Tiffany & Co. store on New York's Fifth Avenue spewed thick gray smoke from under the iconic building on Thursday and caused two minor injuries, officials said.
The fire did not spread to the store itself, but firefighters evacuated about 100 people from the building as a precaution, Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Carlsen said. Two people suffered minor injuries during the evacuation, Carlsen said.
The fire was reported shortly after 9:30 a.m. and was under control by noon, firefighters said. Videos posted on social media showed smoke billowing out from under the store, which had reopened in April after an extensive renovation. The videos showed firefighters battling the blaze with hoses.
Carlsen said the fire was in an underground transformer vault that provides power to the Tiffany building.
Alfonso Quiroz, a spokesperson for the utility Consolidated Edison, said the cause of the fire was under investigation. Quiroz said surrounding buildings did not lose power.
The Fifth Avenue store made famous by the 1961 movie “Breakfast at Tiffany's” is the flagship of the luxury retailer founded in 1837 by jeweler Charles Lewis Tiffany. The company was acquired by LVMH in 2021.
The Tiffany building is next door to Trump Tower, the headquarters of former president Donald Trump's business.
A Tiffany spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. | 2023-06-29T18:50:13+00:00 | newscentermaine.com | https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/nation-world/tiffany-nyc-fire-breaks-out-at-store/507-4bfe3540-5812-4765-a8bb-4e315471c551 |
JOHNSON COUNTY, Ind. — A Columbus man faces charges after police say he shot at a vehicle with a woman and her three younger sisters inside.
Kaden Marsh was arrested Thursday night on an arrest warrant for criminal recklessness, and two counts of pointing a firearm at another. The arrest comes after an investigation into an incident that happened on April 5 sometime around 9:35 p.m. near the intersection of US 31 and East 400 South.
The victim told police a person driving a black SUV was following her on I-65 from the Taylorsville exit. The driver was changing lanes when she did.
The victim told police that she got off I-65 at the Edinburgh exit and turned onto 800 East, still noticing the SUV behind her. She had one of her sisters who were in the car call 911 as she turned onto 400 South. When she got to the stop sign, the SUV pulled in front of her and a man exited his vehicle and started approaching them.
The victim was unable to back up, as another vehicle was behind her. She told police she cut through the grass to flee. Another witness showed police video of the incident. The video captured audio of three gunshots followed by squealing tires and a revving engine as a vehicle sped away.
According to an incident report filed in the case, it appears the incident was partially caused by mistaken identity. The victim’s friend told the victim that her boyfriend’s brother is in an ongoing dispute with Marsh and drives a similar vehicle.
The Flock system identified a vehicle owned by Marsh’s father as appearing near the time the victim’s vehicle appeared in the database. After the girls identified Marsh as the person of interest in a photo lineup, police got a search warrant for Marsh’s father’s house.
During the search, police found prescriptions with Kaden’s name on it along with narcotics packaging and two 9 mm magazines. Neither Kaden nor his father was home at the time.
Marsh bonded out of jail and is awaiting trial. | 2022-05-20T16:32:27+00:00 | fox59.com | https://fox59.com/news/columbus-man-arrested-after-possible-road-rage-incident-off-us-31/ |
NEW YORK – After holding it in limbo following Will Smith's slap of Chris Rock at the Academy Awards in March, Apple will release the actor's next big project, “Emancipation,” this December.
In the fallout of Smith's smack of the comedian, the fate of “Emancipation” — a $120 million runaway slave thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua — had been uncertain. One of Apple's most high-profile productions yet, the film had once been expected to be an Oscar contender this year. But an awards-season rollout of a film headlined by Smith, who the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years, has obvious complications.
Nevertheless, Apple TV+ said Monday that it will debut “Emancipation” on Dec. 2 in theaters and begin streaming it Dec. 9.
Over the weekend, Apple and the NAACP held the first screening of the film in Washington, D.C., as part of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Legislative Conference. Smith attended the screening and spoke on stage.
The release of “Emancipation” will pose the biggest test yet of how eager moviegoers are for a movie headlined by Smith, an actor who has generated more than $6.5 billion in worldwide box office. Still, the brief exclusive run in theaters will also mean “Emancipation," like Apple's best picture-winning “CODA,” will be seen primarily in homes.
Regardless, the streamer isn't shying away from its star. A black-and-white profile of Smith's face, with a chain around his neck, adorns the movie poster.
In the film, Smith plays a man named Peter who escapes from slavery in Louisiana. It was inspired by the 1863 photos of a man known as “Whipped Peter" that first appeared in Harper's Weekly showing a Union Army medical exam of a mutilated man. The film had originally been planned to shoot in Georgia before Fuqua and Smith moved the production to New Orleans in response to Georgia's then-newly enacted laws restricting voting access.
“Emancipation” was shot in the summer of 2021. Until the slap, its release had been expected in 2022.
Before Smith was banned by the motion picture academy, the actor resigned his membership, saying, "My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable.”
Since then, Smith has largely stayed out the public eye. In late July, he gave his most extensive comments about the incident in a video posted to social media in which he apologized to Rock, who had made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, Smith's wife.
Smith remains eligible for an Oscar nomination. | 2022-10-03T18:46:19+00:00 | local10.com | https://www.local10.com/entertainment/2022/10/03/apple-to-release-emancipation-with-will-smith-in-dec/ |
The company is also teaming up with a slew of partners, including Maya Day Club, as it kicks off the 'Summer of OGeez!' and increases offerings in Arizona's adult-use market
PHOENIX, June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Piña coladas are no longer just for beach cabanas and poolside hang outs. Now, you can pack them in your pocket and bring them anywhere.
That's because OGeez! Brands, a leading Arizona-based cannabis infusion company, just released a limited-edition piña colada gummy, its first-ever seasonal flavor. The gummy, which comes in both indica and sativa, hit Arizona dispensaries on June 21, the first day of summer.
"Who doesn't love a piña colada?" said OGeez! CEO Bran Noonan. "They just conjure up summertime fun and relaxation."
The summertime gummy — which comes in both 10 and 30 milligrams units — will only be available this summer and while supplies last. And it's not the only new thing OGeez! is rolling out for the season. The company is ramping up offerings across the board, from new products to live events, in an effort to provide more options to recreational cannabis users.
Notably, OGeez! is partnering with several non-cannabis players this summer, including Maya Day Club in Scottsdale, where it's sponsoring a series of pool parties. The first of these OGeez! summer "takeovers" was held on June 25. Two more are planned for July 30 and August 20 — and, like the first, they'll also feature some of the area's best DJs, a new OGeez! summer-inspired cocktail (served with a non-medicated gummy as a garnish) and lots of OGeez! giveaways and swag.
"We are very excited for this opportunity to partner with OGeez!," said Jason Adler, Chief Development Officer of Riot Hospitality Group, the national company that manages Maya. "They have a huge presence in their industry. This summer series will be great for Scottsdale to see what two large brands can accomplish when partnering up on a promotion."
Maya guests will also receive a token for a complimentary bag of OGeez! gummies at an Arizona dispensary. Those at the June 25 party, for example, went home with a token for SOL Flower's East Valley locations — Tempe-McClintock, Tempe-University and Scottsdale Airpark — which can be redeemed until July 29.
OGeez! is also partnering with Strap Photo Club, a Phoenix start-up, that provides disposable cameras which take high-quality photos that are digitally delivered to members.
In addition, OGeez! is joining forces with Roosevelt Row, located in the Phoenix arts district, to sponsor a series of movie nights in the historic Downtown neighborhood. As with all OGeez! events, guests can expect OGeez! giveaways and swag.
"This is shaping up to be the summer of OGeez! in Arizona," Noonan said. "The adult-use market is continuing to expand, and we are committed to being there for dispensaries and consumers as cannabis becomes more and more mainstreamed."
The Arizona adult-use market has, in fact, been growing since it launched in 2021. In March 2022, adult-use cannabis sales shattered a state record, surpassing $72 million. And more growth is expected.
OGeez! is already capturing a big piece of that growth. The company's "Summer of OGeez!" comes on the heels of another round of new OGeez! products and partnerships.
In May 2022, the company launched the first "mini" gummy in Arizona. The bite-sized gummies come in a 3-milligram, tropical-flavor. They debuted in OGeez's new vibrantly colored bags with 25 units per package.
Meanwhile, in October 2021, the company unveiled Peg's Raspberry Orange RSO, a cutting-edge gummy named in honor of the company's late founder Peggy Noonan. That product is now the company's No. 1 seller. It combines the potency of RSO with the unmatched flavor of OGeez! gummies and eliminates the inaccurate practice of dosing cannabis oil. It is available in a 100-milligram package of 10 gummies, making it ideal for both medical and adult users.
In April, OGeez! also struck up a partnership with the growing media company PHNX Sports, which covers the Arizona sports scene. The two now hold regular events together.
Looking forward, OGeez! is already planning more products, events, and partnerships, including several exciting collaborations with dispensaries.
"We are not stopping," Noonan said. "We are on a mission to bring the OGeez! experience and flavor to more consumers and to stepping beyond traditional cannabis-industry activities. We want people to carry the flavor in their pockets and have it wherever they go."
As a leading cannabis-infusion company, OGeez! Brands manufactures some of the most in-demand gummies in Arizona. The company — which supplies gummies to over 100 dispensaries statewide — is dedicated to creating innovative and memorable cannabis-infused products that flavor life's journey. For more information on OGeez! Brands visit www.ogeezbrands.com and follow OGeez! on Instagram and Twitter @ogeezbrands.
Contact: Kyle Jennings kyle@ogeezbrands.com or (518) 265-9217
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SOURCE OGeez! Brands | 2022-06-30T00:20:13+00:00 | kalb.com | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2022/06/29/ogeez-launches-limited-summer-edition-pia-colada-gummy/ |
Global B2B digital marketing agency focuses on strategic, thoughtful development to best support marketers at large enterprise and Fortune 2000 companies
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global enterprise B2B digital marketing agency and marketing-led customer experience innovator DemandLab today announced significant growth and expansion of its capabilities during 2022. In addition, the agency received a Great Place to Work(R) certification, which recognizes employers who create an outstanding employee experience and is based on employee feedback and independent analysis.
Driven by increased demand and double-digit revenue growth, the company expanded its workforce by 30% in 2022 with the addition of new team members in nearly every unit, including service delivery, project, and client success teams, as well as key administrative roles. In addition to its existing presence in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, DemandLab has grown its global team through significant expansion in Europe, which further extends the services it can provide to global marketing teams.
A consistent standout on workplace review sites such as Glassdoor, DemandLab supports its team with initiatives to further their personal and professional growth. These include a culture that supports team members' personal interests and lives and a heavy focus on professional development and career advancement.
"Ever since our founding in 2009, we at DemandLab have worked closely with our clients as a trusted advisor and partner. Their goals are our goals, too," said Rhoan Morgan, DemandLab Co-Founder, and CEO. "That's why we bring on the most skilled professionals in martech, data, and analytics to ensure they exceed those goals. Their successes directly reflect the hard work of our talented team, and I'm excited about the rate at which we are growing and how it will continue to benefit our clients. Furthermore, the Great Place to Work certification acknowledges our efforts to understand and support our team, provide clarity in what it means to work here, and enable our efforts in being the best match for top talent."
Since 2009, DemandLab has grown from a one-person agency to an international organization helping visionary CMOs, enterprise B2B marketing leaders, and their teams coordinate technology, data, and content to deliver brand-defining, personalized experiences in every marketing channel and throughout the customer journey. By creating, championing, and leading the way in Marketing-Led Customer Experience, DemandLab has helped large B2B enterprises and Fortune 2000 companies navigate a complex martech landscape and optimize their investment in marketing.
"The martech industry continues to evolve, and DemandLab continues to develop accordingly yet judiciously, bringing on exceptional talent that enhances our overall service offerings and furthers our company culture. Those results benefit our clients by expanding the strategic insights and knowledge that allow us to provide them with high-quality, custom solutions," added Eric Hollebone, DemandLab COO.
We create marketing-led customer experiences for global B2B enterprises. Through connected platforms, mastered data, and reporting, we build marketing engines that support revenue growth, business insights, and customer engagement. By orchestrating and optimizing your most valuable marketing assets, we empower marketing leaders to re-envision the journey through the eyes of the customer, redefine the lifecycle, and transform your organization's revenue potential. Learn more about our award-winning consultancy at DemandLab.com.
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SOURCE DemandLab | 2023-01-05T17:36:28+00:00 | wcjb.com | https://www.wcjb.com/prnewswire/2023/01/05/demandlab-reports-26-yoy-growth-an-increase-30-its-workforce-expansion-its-global-team-certification-great-place-workr/ |
MIAMI (AP)Tyler Herro had spent the last few days dealing with an upper-respiratory bug that disrupted his routine. So he arrived at Miami’s arena early Monday morning, 10 hours before gametime, to get some shots up and restore his rhythm.
It worked.
And the Heat struck first against the shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers.
Herro scored 25 points – the second-most he’d ever had in a playoff game – while Bam Adebayo finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds, and the top-seeded Heat ran away in the second half to beat the fourth-seeded 76ers 106-92 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup.
Herro was 4 for 6 from 3-point range; everyone else in the game shot a combined 11 for 64 from deep.
”He’s a worker,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. ”He’s relentless.”
The 76ers were without Joel Embiid, the MVP finalist who isn’t even in Miami while recovering from an orbital fracture and concussion – injuries suffered in Philadelphia’s first-round-clinching win at Toronto. He’s not expected to play in Game 2.
And as would be expected, he was missed. Except by Adebayo, who barely missed anything. He was 8 for 10 from the floor, 8 for 8 from the line.
”I feel like I was just making plays,” Adebayo said.
Jimmy Butler added 15 points for the top-seeded Heat, who got 10 from Gabe Vincent and P.J. Tucker.
Tobias Harris scored 27 points for Philadelphia, which got 19 from Tyrese Maxey and 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists from James Harden.
Game 2 is Wednesday in Miami.
”I didn’t like how we moved the ball,” 76ers coach Doc Rivers said. ”I thought we passed late tonight. I thought the physicality affected us tonight and that had an impact. There were too many times, we’d take the extra dribble and by the time we passed it they got there.”
Miami came out as aggressive as could be, putting Tucker on Harden and having him guard him the entire 94 feet of the floor in a similar approach to what the Heat utilized against Atlanta’s Trae Young in the first round series.
”Doing my job,” Tucker said.
It worked – for a while. Miami led by as many as 12 in the opening quarter, then a 10-2 run fueled by eight points from Herro gave the Heat a 13-point edge at 37-24 to mark their biggest of the half. The margin was still 46-36 midway through the second after another Herro basket.
The rest of the half was all Philly. And that was the 76ers’ takeaway from the night.
”It’s doable. It is doable,” Maxey said. ”It’s not totally out of reach.”
Miami went 1 for 9 from the field over the final 6 minutes of the half, with four turnovers in there as well, and Philadelphia went on a 15-4 spurt. Harden’s shot in the lane with 28 seconds left put the 76ers up 51-50, their first lead of the night and the score that they took into the locker room.
The 76ers scored the first four points of the second half, going up by five. That was as good as it got for the 76ers.
”I liked how we fought back,” Rivers said. ”I liked how we came out at the beginning of the third quarter … and then I didn’t like the rest of the game from that point on.”
Adebayo took a bullet pass from Tucker for a dunk that put Miami up 62-61, and that would be the final lead change of the night. It was the start of a 10-0 run that built a cushion, and then an 13-2 run early in the fourth decided matters and pushed the Heat edge out to 98-77.
”It’s the playoffs,” Adebayo said. ”First to four.”
TIP-INS
76ers: Philadelphia fell to 6-9 without Embiid this season. … DeAndre Jordan started in place of Embiid and had four points and two rebounds in 17 minutes. … Georges Niang was 0 for 7, all those shots from 3-point range.
Heat: Kyle Lowry (hamstring) missed his third consecutive game. … Backup center Dewayne Dedmon picked up three fouls in a 23-second span of the first quarter. He then had two more in a 1:46 span of the third, giving him five fouls in 4:14 of playing time.
CLANK
The teams combined to shoot 15 for 70 in the first half from 3-point range – 6 for 34 by the 76ers, a slightly better 9 for 36 by the Heat. Philadelphia’s 17.6% rate from beyond the arc was its second-worst of the season. The only worse game by the 76ers was a 17.1% game, also at Miami.
ROBINSON SITS
Heat guard Duncan Robinson, who led Miami in games played for a third consecutive regular season, didn’t appear in Game 1. It’s the first time since April 2019 that he dressed but didn’t play, ending a streak of 256 games including playoffs. He missed three games this season while on Miami’s inactive list.
UP NEXT
Game 2 is Wednesday in Miami.
—
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports | 2022-05-04T05:01:49+00:00 | krqe.com | https://www.krqe.com/sports/nba-basketball/herro-scores-25-heat-take-game-1-over-76ers-106-92-2/ |
Partnership with media startup will enable readers to access paywalled McClatchy content
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- McClatchy announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Zette, an online subscription platform that enables consumers to access premium content from participating news publishers. Through this agreement, Zette subscribers will have access to paywalled McClatchy content on an article-by-article basis.
Zette, a media startup founded in 2020, enables readers to easily pay for the articles they want. Each month, Zette subscribers pay $9.99 and receive 30 article credits, which they can spend through Zette's downloadable browser extension. Readers browse the news normally until a paywall appears, at which point they can spend an article credit for Zette to unlock the paywall.
Following McClatchy's partnership with Zette, the platform now boasts access to over 80 premium newspapers, most of which are local, community-focused publications.
"We are thrilled to be among the early adopters of this exciting and potentially game-changing platform," said McClatchy Chief Revenue Officer Tony Berg. "By offering article-level access to our paywalled content, we will have the opportunity—and the ability—to offer readers the exact news experience that they want, across all of our publications."
"Zette's mission is to democratize access to high quality journalism, and McClatchy offers some of the best local reporting in the country," said Zette Founder and CEO Yehong Zhu. "From the Miami Herald to the Sacramento Bee, we're bringing the value of local news to Americans everywhere. It's an honor to work with McClatchy's Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists."
Zette is a venture-backed media startup that gives readers pay-per-article access to paywalled publications, all while sharing revenue with newsrooms. Download the Zette browser extension to open, read, and share quality journalism behind paywalls; a single $9.99 subscription unlocks 30 paywalled articles each month. Zette was founded in 2020 by 26-year-old Yehong Zhu, a former Forbes journalist, Twitter product manager, and Harvard philosophy graduate. Learn more at zette.com.
We help people and communities thrive. Through our deeply-rooted commitment to the role of local journalism, McClatchy is a catalyst for informed engagement, greater understanding, and deeper community connections. We ensure delivery of news and information essential to enhancing individual lives and improving the 30 distinct communities that are home to our journalists and iconic brands, including the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star, The Sacramento Bee, The Charlotte Observer, The (Raleigh) News and Observer, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. We extend our unique local and regional reach, relevance and resources to our advertising partners through fully-integrated marketing solutions.
Zette Contact:
Yehong Zhu
y@zette.com
McClatchy Contact:
Susan Firey
sfirey@mcclatchy.com
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SOURCE Zette | 2022-08-14T12:24:24+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/prnewswire/2022/08/14/zette-enters-content-access-agreement-with-mcclatchy/ |
Eastern Kentucky rock-climbing some of the best in the world
SLADE, Ky. (WYMT) - For many people in Kentucky sports center around the usual: football, basketball and baseball.
But for some, a different sport in Eastern Kentucky calls to them.
Rock climbing is a foreign sport for many and it isn’t for the faint of heart.
However, one of the best places in the world to climb is right here in Eastern Kentucky.
In a state know for its basketball, football, and horse racing, one of it’s biggest world-wide draws lies tucked away in the Appalachians.
“The Red River Gorge is pretty special the amount of rock alone that we have, it’s the type of rock, the amount. It is the third largest single pitch sport area in the world behind Spain and Greece, the countries, so our little corner of Kentucky has some of the, not just the most extensive amount if climbing, but some of the best single pitch climbing,” said Matt Kiroff with Red River Climbing Guides LLC.
The sport of climbing may not be as well to know the majority of people, but to the folks that do know it, it’s a community unlike any other.
“It seems like there’s a culture around every climbing area. If it’s a large area or a small area, there’s a community around it. They all kind of have their own flavor, but in a way their kind of all related to, like it’s such an eclectic community,” said Kiroff.
Climbing here draws people from all over the country and world, and for a Boston-native, it gave her a new community to be apart of.
“It’s one of the best places to climb and the people are awesome, and you cant beat it because it gorgeous, and I think after the Pandemic, you know I made a decision to build as much community as possible and get out into the world and see what’s there,” said climber Nicole Rodier.
For anyone looking to get into climbing, it’s pretty simple.
“Just try it, I mean I think it made my life better, so and it’s an Olympic sport. Theres college opportunity, other than that it’s great exercise, physical and mental. It inspires self confidence, it’s a team building exercise. I don’t really see anything wrong with climbing. There’s only good things, and it made my life better and I want other people to feel the way it makes me feel,” said Kiroff.
If you’ve never rock-climbed before, locals say the Red River Gorge is a great place to start.
Copyright 2023 WYMT. All rights reserved. | 2023-06-29T00:15:50+00:00 | wymt.com | https://www.wymt.com/2023/06/28/eastern-kentucky-rock-climbing-some-best-world/ |
(WIVB) — With only a few weeks before the start of the school year, districts throughout Western New York are scrambling to find enough substitute teachers and staff.
Niagara Falls School Superintendent Mark Laurrie said the district went from having around 80 substitute teachers to now having less than 10. With school around the corner, he’s not sure they have enough time or enough candidates to fill those positions.
“It’s a tough time, not only to find teachers, it’s a competitive time to find teachers,” Laurrie said. “But it’s a nearly impossible, critical time to find substitute teachers.”
The first day of school is quickly approaching, and school districts across Western New York have a major assignment — hire enough teachers.
“We are competing with a lot of school districts even in Western New York, especially those hard to fill areas of special ed and science,” Laurrie said. “And we knew we had to lock up, so to speak, and contract as many as we could, as early as possible.”
Laurrie said the district began hiring in April. The district still needs a science teacher and two school psychologists.
“This has been about six months in the making, and we’re down to our last few,” he said. “It’s as difficult as it’s ever been.”
Wendy Paterson runs the School of Education at Buffalo State College. She says enrollment is down in the teaching program.
“Teaching is a lot more complicated than perhaps it used to be, and so being able to find the people who are suitable for the positions that you have available, that’s challenging,” she said. “Whereas in 2009, approximately that far back, we had about 3,200 candidates here at Buffalo State in all categories. Presently we have about 1,200 in all categories.”
Paterson said there’s a need for middle and high school special education teachers, as well as bilingual special education.
“We’re doing everything we can to find out who’s out there who has the dispositions for teaching and we’ll get them to that point,” she said. “So there’s some pretty stiff recruiting going on right now.”
Besides a need for teachers and substitute teachers, Laurrie said there’s a large need for bus drivers. He said the district had to push back the start of the school day because they don’t have enough drivers to get kids to school on time.
Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter from Buffalo, N.Y. who has been part of the News 4 team since 2019. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter. | 2022-08-16T04:30:43+00:00 | wivb.com | https://www.wivb.com/news/education/nationwide-teacher-shortage-hits-home-as-wny-school-districts-struggle-to-fill-teacher-positions-ahead-of-school-year/ |
WASHINGTON — Inflation's relentless surge didn't merely persist in June. It accelerated.
For the 12 months ending in June, the government's consumer price index rocketed 9.1%, the fastest year-over-year jump since 1981.
And that was nothing next to what energy prices did: Fueled by heavy demand and by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, energy costs shot up nearly 42% in the past 12 months, the largest such jump since 1980.
Even if you toss out food and energy prices — which are notoriously volatile and have driven much of the price spike — so-called core inflation soared 5.9% over the past year.
Consumers have endured the pain in everyday routines. Unleaded gasoline is up 61% in the past year. Men's suits, jackets and coats, 25%, Airline tickets, 34%. Eggs 33%. Breakfast sausage, 14%.
Under Chair Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve never anticipated inflation this severe or persistent. Yet after having been merely an afterthought for decades, high inflation reasserted itself with ferocious speed as shortages of labor and supplies ran up against a propulsive rise in demand for goods and services across the economy.
In February 2021, the consumer price index was running just 1.7% above its level a year earlier. From there, it accelerated — past 2% in March, past 4% in April and 5% in May. By December, consumer prices hit the 7% year-over-year barrier. And on and on it went: 7.5% in January, 7.9% in February. And the increases have topped 8% every month since March.
The United States has endured worse inflation before, but not in many decades. The post-World War II inflation peak reached nearly 20% in 1947, a result of the lifting of wartime price curbs, supply shortages and pent-up consumer demand. The inflation of the 1970s and early 1980s peaked at 14.8% in March 1980 before the Fed exorcized high prices with aggressive rate hikes that caused brutal back-to-back recessions in 1980 and 1981-1982.
For months, Powell and some others characterized high inflation as merely a “transitory” phenomenon while the economy rebounded from the pandemic recession faster than anyone had anticipated. No longer. Now, most economists expect inflation to remain painfully elevated well after this year, with demand outstripping supplies in numerous areas of the economy.
So the Fed has radically changed course by imposing a succession of large rate hikes. The central bank is making a high-risk bet that it can slow the economy enough to rein in inflation without weakening it so much as to trigger a recession.
The overall economy looks healthy for now, with a robust job market and extremely low unemployment. But many economists warn that the Fed's steady credit tightening will likely cause a downturn.
WHAT’S CAUSED THE SPIKE IN INFLATION?
Good news — mostly. When the pandemic paralyzed the economy in the spring of 2020 and lockdowns kicked in, businesses closed or cut hours and consumers stayed home as a health precaution, employers slashed a breathtaking 22 million jobs. Economic output plunged at a record-shattering 31% annual rate in 2020's April-June quarter.
Everyone braced for more misery. Companies cut investment and postponed restocking. A severe recession ensued.
But instead of sinking into a prolonged downturn, the economy staged an unexpectedly rousing recovery, fueled by vast infusions of government aid and emergency intervention by the Fed, which slashed rates among other things. By spring of last year, the rollout of vaccines had emboldened consumers to return to restaurants, bars, shops, airports and entertainment venues.
Suddenly, businesses had to scramble to meet demand. They couldn’t hire fast enough to fill job openings or buy enough supplies to meet customer orders. As business roared back, ports and freight yards couldn’t handle the traffic. Global supply chains seized up.
With demand up and supplies down, costs jumped. And companies found that they could pass along those higher costs in the form of higher prices to consumers, many of whom had managed to pile up savings during the pandemic.
Critics blamed, in part, President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, with its $1,400 checks to most households, for overheating an economy that was already sizzling on its own. Many others assigned a greater blame to supply shortages. And some argued that the Fed kept rates near zero far too long, lending fuel to runaway spending and inflated prices in stocks, homes and other assets.
IS HIGH INFLATION AFFECTING JUST THE UNITED STATES?
Not by a long shot. Prices are rising just about everywhere in the world, in part a consequence of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has elevated energy and food prices, and in part because of the supply chain bottlenecks that have driven U.S. prices up.
Eurostat, the statistical service of the European Union, says it expects year-over-year inflation to hit 8.6% last month from a year earlier in the 19 countries that share the euro currency, and up from an annual increase of 8.1% in May.
The International Monetary Fund has forecast that consumer prices in the world's advanced economies will jump 5.7% this year, the most since 1984. The IMF foresees 8.7% inflation in poorer emerging market and developing countries, the highest such rate since 2008.
HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?
No one knows for sure. Elevated consumer price inflation could endure as long as companies struggle to keep up with consumers’ demand for goods and services. A recovering job market — employers added a record 6.7 million jobs last year and a healthy average of 457,000 a month so far this year — means that Americans as a whole can afford to keep spending.
The Fed foresees inflation staying above its 2% annual target into 2024. But relief from higher prices might be coming. Oil prices have been tumbling on fears of an economic downturn. Jammed-up supply chains are showing some signs of improvement, at least in industries like transportation. Commodity prices have begun to fall. Pay increases have slowed. And surveys show that Americans’ expectations for inflation over the long run have eased — a trend that often points to more moderate price increases over time.
What's more, the Fed’s pivot toward an aggressively anti-inflationary policy could eventually reduce consumer demand. Inflation itself is eroding purchasing power and might force some consumers to shave spending.
At the same time, new COVID variants could cloud the outlook — either by causing outbreaks that force factories and ports to close and further disrupt supply chains or by keeping more people home and reducing demand for goods.
HOW ARE HIGHER PRICES AFFECTING CONSUMERS?
The strong job market is boosting workers' pay, though not enough to offset higher prices. The Labor Department says that after accounting for higher consumer prices, hourly earnings for private-sector employees fell 3.6% last month from a year earlier, the 15th straight drop.
There are exceptions: After-inflation wages rose more than 4% for hotel workers and 3% for those working in bars. | 2022-07-14T21:10:35+00:00 | 9news.com | https://www.9news.com/article/news/nation-world/why-is-inflation-so-high-right-now/507-9c3c2580-3c37-42fc-b5fc-5c791e9046fa |
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CALIFORNIA REALTORS® will gather in person next week for the first time in three years for the state's premiere real estate trade show at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach Calif. REimagine! Conference & Expo, running Oct. 11-13, offers California REALTORS® three full days of valuable and insightful seminars, learning experiences, networking opportunities and to connect with more than 200 exhibitors showcasing their products and services. Many conference sessions will focus on the shifting real estate market and how REALTORS® can prepare themselves and their clients.
Highlights of REimagine! 2022 include:
Tuesday, Oct. 11 – Pre-conference Day (Paid Day)
Broker Conference: Industry Leaders LIVE!
Join Industry Leaders from around the state for a one-day event strategically designed for broker/owners and thought leaders. Understand the hype behind Crypto, Meta and Blockchain Technology and break down its impact on the future. (9 a.m.-5 p.m.)
C.A.R. Residential Purchase Agreement
The latest RPA standard form is out – learn all about the best ways to utilize this form in future transactions. At this session, REALTORS® will hear from a C.A.R. Legal Hotline attorney to get their expertise on how this form works and the best ways agents can protect themselves and their clients. (9 a.m.-1 p.m.)
Power Up Your Social Media Marketing
What's in and what's out in social media marketing? In this immersive, hands-on day, REALTORS® will walk away with knowledge about setting up their social media marketing for success with expert-led strategies that work. They'll also learn how to attract clients with content that converts across platforms and get pro tips on creating TikToks and Instagram REELS to increase their sales. (9 a.m.-5 p.m.)
It's Not Business As Usual: Strategies for Business Success in 2023
REALTORS® will learn how to jump start their business planning for 2023 with this intensive, hands-on, day-long event guaranteed to give them new insights into setting up their business for success. They'll learn about new systems, time management skills, marketing, branding and much more from the experts themselves. (9 a.m.-5 p.m.)
Top Reasons Agents Get Sued: All About Disclosures
Disclosures are one of the most important areas to understand in real estate today. This course will help REALTORS® understand the reasons behind approximately 30 disclosures typically seen in a residential transaction, when the disclosures must be made and when they might be exempted. (1:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.)
YPN Ignite
This half-day pre-conference track, is the nexus point of knowledge, collaboration, innovation and fun, featuring speakers, such as past Rising Star Award honorees, who will share their insights and talents on a variety of topics relevant to today's agent. (1:30 p.m.- 5 p.m.)
Wednesday, Oct. 12 – REimagine Day 1
Keynote Speaker Tom Ferry - Legendary real estate coach Tom Ferry will share his ultimate success formula to out-position your competition and make 2023 your best year. Learn the three most important business plays to run, top lead sources to generate more business, how to scale trust to win more prospects and more. (9:30 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.)
Keynote Luncheon with Jordan Levine - C.A.R. Chief Economist Jordan Levine will share valuable data and insights on pressing housing issues in his 2023 Housing Market Forecast. (Paid event)
The Impact of Climate Change on California's Water Resources and the Future of Housing Development - Moderated by C.A.R. President Otto Catrina, a panel of water experts will discuss wildfire risk for existing and future properties, how emergency conservation measures will affect future housing development and ways the built environment can reduce water use in the future. (1:45 p.m.-2:30 p.m.)
S.W.O.T. with Industry Leaders - Moderated by C.A.R. CEO John Sebree, when change happens, you want to hear from the leaders. Hear what some of the biggest names in the real estate industry discuss the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats they see in the market and real estate industry. Speakers: Anthony Hitt, CEO, Engel & Volkers; Tami Bonnell, CEO Exit Realty Corp.; Guy Gal, CEO, Side; Sandra Miller, broker-owner, Engel & Volkers. (2:40 p.m.-3:25 p.m.)
Exhibit Hall Grand Opening
REimagine! will kick off the Exhibit Hall opening at 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., giving attendees an opportunity to discover the latest products and innovations and connect face-to-face with hundreds of vendors in major product categories including technology, apps, marketing and finance. New this year are dedicated "Expo only" hours (Oct. 12, 9 a.m.-9:30 a.m. and 11:20 a.m.- 1:45 p.m. and Oct. 13, 9 a.m.-9:30 a.m. and 11:50 a.m.- 1:45 p.m.), when no other conference events will be concurrently held, giving attendees ample time to explore the Exhibit Hall.
Thursday, Oct. 13 - REimagine Day 2
What's next? Looking Ahead to the 2023 Market - Moderated by 2014 C.A.R. Past President Kevin Brown, industry expert economists break down what's happening in the market right now, discuss how economic indicators like rising inflation and falling home sales are influencing the housing landscape, and share their predictions for what's ahead for 2023. Speakers: Jeff Tucker, senior economist, Zillow's Economic Research Team; Michael Cohen, VP Advisory Services, CoStar Group; Jessica Lynch, VP Finance, NAHB; and Robert Kleinhenz, economist and executive director, Beacon Economics, and director of research at the School of Business Administration Center for Economic Forecasting and Development, U.C. Riverside. (9:30 a.m-10.40 a.m.)
ADUs 101 - Dive into questions surrounding accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to learn what's allowed as well as recent changes to state and local laws. Find out whether finished basement or attic units might qualify and other considerations. (10:10 a.m. - 10:40 a.m.)
Tech It Out! Trends Forecast - Leading tech strategist Mike DelPrete will help REALTORS® stay on top of the latest tech trends as he shares can't-miss insights and analysis on today's real estate tech space and where it's going. (10:50 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.)
Strategy Talk – Hear from Jason Oppenheim, star of Netflix's Selling Sunset and Selling the OC, as he's interviewed on business strategies that have helped his brokerage find mass success. (2:40 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.)
Exhibit Hall - The Exhibit Hall continues from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., including dedicated "Expo only" hours (9 a.m.-9:30 a.m. and 11:50 a.m.- 1:45 p.m.).
Real estate professionals who would like to attend can register here. For more information, visit reimagineexpo.org.
Leading the way...® in real estate news and information for more than 110 years, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (www.car.org) is one of the largest state trade organizations in the United States, with more than 217,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.
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SOURCE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) | 2022-10-03T16:11:15+00:00 | wafb.com | https://www.wafb.com/prnewswire/2022/10/03/states-premiere-real-estate-trade-show-reimagine-conference-amp-expo-opens-next-week-long-beach/ |
A look at what’s happening around the majors on today:
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REN-DONE
Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon needs surgery on his right wrist and once again will have a season cut short by an injury.
The 32-year-old has played in just 155 of the Angels’ 384 games during the first three seasons of the $245 million, seven-year deal he signed before the 2020 season.
Rendon batted .228 with five homers and 28 RBIs in 45 games this season. Last year, he was limited to 58 games by an assortment of injuries and hit .240 with nine homers and 34 RBIs.
Rendon’s best season came in 2019 with Washington when he was an All-Star and led the NL with 44 doubles and 126 RBIs while hitting a career-best .319. He homered in Game 6 and Game 7 of the Nationals’ World Series victory over the Houston Astros.
SANDY’S STATUE
A statue honoring Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax will be unveiled at Dodger Stadium before Los Angeles hosts Cleveland.
The 86-year-old Koufax is expected for the ceremony, along with current Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw and team officials.
This will be the second commemorative statue at the ballpark, joining the one that honors Jackie Robinson.
Koufax was a two-time World Series MVP with the Dodgers. The lefty won three Cy Young Awards and was 165-87 from 1955-66 with Brooklyn and Los Angeles.
MOMENT OF ZIM
The Nationals will retire Ryan Zimmerman’s No. 11 prior to a game against Philadelphia, honoring the retired slugger who leads the franchise in games, home runs and several other key offensive statistics.
Zimmerman was the Nats’ first draft pick after moving to Washington in 2005 and played his entire 16-season career with the club — including on the 2019 World Series championship team. Born in D.C. and raised in Virginia, Zimmerman played 1,799 games and slugged 284 homers, and he also leads the franchise with 963 runs, 1,846 hits, 417 doubles and 1,061 RBIs.
RILED UP
Tigers prospect Riley Greene is expected to make his major league debut at home against Texas. Greene, the fifth overall pick in the 2019 draft, is considered one of Detroit’s two outstanding hitting prospects, along with 2020 first overall pick Spencer Torkelson. Greene was going to start the season with the Tigers, but a broken foot delayed his debut. He’s getting his chance now with outfielder Austin Meadows on the COVID-19 IL.
“We’re not playing the best ball right now,” said Torkelson, who is hitting .178. “Riley produces, and I know he’s ready. Maybe he can be the spark we need.”
UP NEXT
The teams play the third of the four-game series on Saturday afternoon, with Detroit’s Rony Garcia (0-2, 5.06) facing Texas’ Taylor Hearn (4-4, 5.37).
TOUGH IN TORONTO
Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah has been at his best against the Yankees, going 2-0 with a 1.52 ERA in four starts against New York in his young career.
Manoah (8-1, AL-leading 1.67 ERA) enters his third start this season against the AL East leaders having given up one run in 12 innings against them. He’s also pitched 12 scoreless innings in his previous two starts overall heading into this outing in Toronto.
Manoah will face Yankees right-hander Jameson Taillon (7-1, 2.93), who has a 7.00 ERA in two starts since taking a perfect game into the eighth inning against the Angels on June 2.
DOMINANT VERLANDER
Justin Verlander (8-1, 1.94 ERA) is among five pitchers tied for the major league lead in wins going into his start for Houston against the visiting Chicago White Sox.
The 39-year-old right-hander, who missed last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, is first in the AL in WHIP (0.81), third in opponents’ batting average (.177), and second in opponents’ OPS (.205).
Johnny Cueto takes an 0-3 record and 3.53 ERA into the start for Chicago.
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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-06-18T18:27:50+00:00 | localsyr.com | https://www.localsyr.com/sports/sports-news/leading-off-rendon-out-for-season-koufax-statue-unveiled/ |
WATERVILLE — Dirigo Labs has successfully secured its pitch competition prize for its inaugural cohort of 12 Maine-based startups. The accelerator program’s pitch competition, which will be held at Colby College on Tuesday, June 21 from 5-8 p.m., will evaluate each company’s pitch delivery, capital strategy, and impact on entrepreneurship in Maine. Dirigo Labs’ inaugural cohort, which began on March 23 and is housed in the Hathaway Creative Center in Waterville, caters to startups in a range of industries, including aquaculture, software, healthcare, and aerospace.
“Skowhegan Savings has a long history of supporting local business startups, recognizing that innovation and entrepreneurship are the cornerstones of our economy,” said Steve Thomas, SVP senior commercial lender at Skowhegan Savings Bank. ”The Dirigo Accelerator program is fostering this group of entrepreneurs, by providing the tools and mentorship, to be successful. Our charitable foundation couldn’t be more pleased to award the winner with a $25,000 cash prize to help them achieve that next level of growth necessary for their business to thrive.”
The 12-week program guides startups through a targeted curriculum to execute their project plans, and each cohort company is able to work with a curated board of local and national advisors from a range of industries. Seminar topics included how to utilize public-private sector grants and economic incentives, customer acquisition strategies, capital planning, and intellectual property evaluation.
“This inaugural cohort represents the very best of Maine’s startup landscape,” said Dirigo Labs’ Managing Director Susan Ruhlin. “These passionate founders are building a stronger innovation-based economy in our state, and we can’t wait to share their progress with the community. The generous support of Skowhegan Savings Bank is a perfect example of their steadfast commitment to helping entrepreneurs turn vision into reality, and we are so grateful for the support.”
To learn more about Dirigo Labs’ pitch competition and how you can attend in person, please visit https://tinyurl.com/2p82dhzm. For startups and potential mentors interested in learning more about Dirigo Labs, please visit http://www.dirigolabs.org. | 2022-06-09T20:34:00+00:00 | bangordailynews.com | https://bangordailynews.com/2022/06/09/bdn-maine/dirigo-labs-secures-25000-pitch-competition-prize-from-skowhegan-savings-bank/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump has appealed a New York judge’s decision to hold the former president in contempt of court and fine him $10,000 per day for failing to comply with a subpoena for evidence in the state attorney general’s civil investigation into his business dealings.
Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, filed a notice of appeal Wednesday with the appellate division of the state’s trial court — the second time in two months that Trump has sought to overturn Manhattan Judge Arthur Engoron’s ruling against him in a subpoena matter.
In court papers, Habba questioned the legal basis for Engoron’s contempt ruling Monday, arguing that Trump had responded properly to the subpoena and that Attorney General Letitia James’ office failed to show his conduct “was calculated to defeat, impair, impede, or prejudice” its investigation.
James’ office refused to engage in “good-faith discussions” before seeking to have Trump fined, Habba argued. In a statement after the ruling Monday, Habba said: “All documents responsive to the subpoena were produced to the attorney general months ago.”
In a statement Wednesday, James said Engoron’s order was clear on Trump being in contempt of court.
“We’ve seen this playbook before, and it has never stopped our investigation of Mr. Trump and his organization,” James said. “This time is no different.”
In another subpoena fight, Trump is challenging Engoron’s Feb. 17 ruling requiring that he answer questions under oath. James has said that the probe uncovered evidence that Trump may have misstated the value of assets like skyscrapers and golf courses for more than a decade. Oral arguments in that appeal are scheduled for May 11.
Along with its subpoena for Trump’s testimony, James’ office issued a subpoena for numerous documents, including paperwork and communications pertaining to his financial statements, financing and debt for a Chicago hotel project and development plans for his Seven Springs Estate north of New York City, and even communications with Forbes magazine, where he sought to burnish his image as a wealthy businessman.
James, a Democrat, asked Engoron to hold Trump in contempt after he failed to produce any documents by a March 31 court deadline. In his ruling, Engoron said that Trump and his lawyers not only failed to meet the deadline, but also failed to document the steps they had taken to search for the documents.
Instead, “Trump produced 16 pages of boilerplate objections and a four-page affirmation by counsel that states, summarily, that Mr. Trump was unable to locate any responsive documents in his custody,” Engoron said in a written version of his ruling. “The affirmation fails to identify what search methods were employed, where they were employed, by whom they were employed, and where such searches took place.”
Habba, arguing at a hearing Monday, insisted that she went to great lengths to comply with the subpoena, even traveling to Trump’s home in Florida to ask him specifically whether he had in his possession any documents that would be responsive to the demand.
Habba noted that Trump does not send emails or text messages and has no work computer “at home or anywhere else.” She described the search for documents as “diligent,” but Engoron took issue with the lack of detail in her written response to the subpoena and questioned why it didn’t include an affidavit from Trump himself.
“You can’t just stand here and say I searched this and that,” Engoron said.
Trump, a Republican, is suing James in federal court in an effort to stop her investigation. He recently labeled her an “operative for the Democrat Party” and said her investigation and a parallel criminal probe overseen by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg,another Democrat, are “a continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt of all time.”
Bragg said this month that the three-year-old criminal investigation he inherited in January from his predecessor, Cyrus Vance Jr., is continuing “without fear or favor” despite a recent shakeup in the probe’s leadership. Trump’s lawyers contend that James is using her civil investigation to gain access to information that could then be used against him in the criminal probe.
So far, the district attorney’s investigation has resulted only in tax fraud charges against Trump’s company, the Trump Organization, and its longtime finance chief Allen Weisselberg relating to lucrative fringe benefits such as rent, car payments and school tuition. The company and Weisselberg have pleaded not guilty.
James’ investigation is covering much of the same ground, focusing in part on what the attorney general said is a pattern of misleading banks and tax authorities about the value of his properties.
Assistant Attorney General Andrew Amer told Engoron that the probe was being hampered “because we don’t have evidence from the person at the top of this organization.” He said the failure to turn documents over in response to the subpoena was “effectively Mr. Trump thumbing his nose at this court’s order.”
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Associated Press reporter Larry Neumeister contributed to this report.
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Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak | 2022-04-27T18:56:34+00:00 | pix11.com | https://pix11.com/news/national-news/ap-national/trump-appeals-new-york-contempt-ruling-10k-per-day-fine/ |
MADRID (AP) — Spain on Tuesday eased requirements for foreign laborers without legal documents in an effort to bring thousands of workers into the official labor force and regulate jobs in understaffed sectors including the hospitality and farming industries.
The government decree reforms an existing immigration law and makes it easier for Spanish employers to hire workers from their home country. It also eases work permit requirements for workers already settled in Spain.
The Migration Ministry acknowledged that previous procedures were “often slow and inadequate”, leading to high social and economic costs for the country.
There are an estimated 500,000 people working in Spain’s underground economy.
“These measures will provide us with better tools to tackle the challenges posed by migration,” Social Security and Migration Minister José Luis Escrivá said at a press conference following the government cabinet meeting that approved the bill.
Foreign workers who have lived in the country for two years or more can seek temporary residency papers by enrolling in training courses for jobs in high-demand sectors.
International students will be able to start work in Spain at the end of their studies instead of waiting for three years. Foreign students will be also allowed to work up to 30 hours a week while studying. Foreigners who can show they have been in Spain for at least two years and have worked without papers for at least six months can also seek work permits.
Escrivá said the ministry will update a list of job areas needing workers to provide a more exact picture of the labor market. Sectors like hospitality and agriculture are traditionally understaffed in Spain and businesses often resort to migrant laborers without documents. | 2022-07-27T01:03:15+00:00 | everythinglubbock.com | https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/business/spain-passes-bill-to-help-legalize-foreign-workers/ |
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska fired Scott Frost on Sunday, the situation so dire in the once-proud football program that athletic director Trev Alberts made the move only three weeks before the coach’s contract buyout would have been cut in half.
The Cornhuskers lost 45-42 to Georgia Southern as a three-touchdown favorite at home Saturday night, and the student section chanted “Fire Frost” at the end of the game.
Frost was 16-31 three games into his fifth season, and his .340 winning percentage was second-worst among Nebraska coaches who lasted more than four years.
“You run a professional organization that has high standards, (and) accountability has to matter,” Alberts said at a news conference. “Scott and I talked about this: 16-31 was not at a level that was acceptable to us.”
Associate head coach Mickey Joseph was named interim coach for the rest of the season. The Huskers play No. 6 Oklahoma at home this week.
Joseph, 54, is the first Black head coach at Nebraska in any sport and among four new members of the staff this season. Like Frost, he is a former Nebraska quarterback, having played from 1988-91.
“I won’t meddle in Mickey’s decision-making process,” Alberts said. “I encouraged Mickey to be the head coach and make decisions as the head coach. There’ll be some structural changes and things that I think Mickey believes in.”
Alberts didn’t elaborate on what changes Joseph would make. Joseph is scheduled to meet with reporters on Tuesday.
Joseph returned to Nebraska as wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator after coaching receivers at LSU from 2017-21. He also was LSU’s assistant head coach his last two seasons there.
Alberts made a surprising move last November when he announced he would bring back Frost after what turned out to be a 3-9 season. Frost fired four offensive assistants, had his pay cut from $5 million to $4 million and agreed to having his buyout drop from $15 million to $7.5 million on Oct. 1.
Alberts said the university didn’t try to negotiate a lower buyout and declined to comment on whether donors contributed the money to pay off Frost.
“The University of Nebraska has a long history of living up to what we’ve agreed to,” Alberts said, “and so the contract is what the contract is.”
Alberts said firing Frost now gives him ample time to conduct a thorough search for the next coach. He said it would be best if the new coach were in place for the early signing period in December but added that the process won’t be rushed.
The Huskers opened the season with a 31-28 loss to Northwestern in Ireland, struggled into the fourth quarter before putting away FCS North Dakota 38-17 and then allowed 642 yards while losing to a Sun Belt Conference team in Georgia Southern.
The 47-year-old Frost’s spectacular failure was never envisioned when he left Central Florida as the hottest coach in America.
The storyline for his hiring was delicious, with Frost returning to his home state and the school he quarterbacked to a share of the 1997 national championship.
He had taken over a Central Florida program that went 0-12 in 2015, and two years later he led the Golden Knights to a 13-0 record and a Peach Bowl win over Auburn.
Frost, who grew up 90 minutes west of Lincoln in Wood River, was hailed as a savior of the program when former athletic director Bill Moos signed him to a seven-year, $35 million contract.
Moos boasted he had gotten “the pick of the litter” from the 2017-18 coaching cycle and that Big Ten powers would be “running scared” once Frost got the Huskers on track. Frost, when asked about having to possibly adjust his style to the Big Ten, shot back that he hoped the Big Ten would have to adjust to him instead.
What followed were four-plus seasons of underachieving and undisciplined play — and unhappiness among a loyal fan base desperately hoping for a return to a semblance of the program’s glory days.
There was never an indication that would happen under Frost. His Huskers were famous for losing close games — 22 of his 31 losses were decided by eight points or fewer — and for getting beat as double-digit favorites.
The Frost era was the worst at Nebraska since Bill Jennings was 15-34-1 (.310) in the five years before Hall of Fame coaches Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne reigned over four decades of sustained success that brought five national championships and 22 conference titles.
The Huskers have gone through five coaches since Osborne retired in 1997, and they are a shell of their former selves. They haven’t won a conference championship since 1999, and they haven’t won more than five games in a season since going 9-4 in 2016 under Mike Riley.
Frost was 10-26 in Big Ten games and, worse, 6-18 against West Division opponents. His teams never won more than three conference games in a season or finished higher than fifth place in the seven-team West.
Asked why he didn’t wait to make the change, Alberts said: “We owed it to the players, to give them a different voice, perhaps a slightly different vision. … We needed to inject something into this team to give them the confidence and hopefully help them compete. I think nothing would please me more than to see a pretty significant change and help this team get over the hump and win some games.”
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More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25 | 2022-09-12T10:56:18+00:00 | wric.com | https://www.wric.com/sports/sports-headlines/ap-scott-frost-fired-as-nebraska-coach-following-1-2-start/ |
MILLER PLACE, N.Y. (AP) — An 82-year-old woman was pronounced dead at a New York nursing facility and then taken to a funeral home, where she was found to be breathing, authorities said.
The woman was pronounced dead at Waters Edge Rehab and Nursing Center in Port Jefferson on Long Island at 11:15 a.m. Saturday, Suffolk County police said.
The woman, whose name was not released, was brought to the O.B. Davis Funeral Home in Miller Place at 1:30 p.m., police said in a news release. She was discovered breathing at 2:09 p.m., they said.
No update on the woman's condition was available Monday.
The incident was referred to the state attorney general's office for investigation, police said.
A message seeking comment was sent to the nursing home. | 2023-02-06T13:22:02+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/woman-found-breathing-after-nursing-home-17766275.php |
Oregon is invested in Fox Corp. and is investigating its board over bogus election fraud claims
By ANDREW SELSKY
Associated Press
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon’s attorney general announced Monday she has begun investigating the board of directors of Fox Corp. for breaching its fiduciary duties by allowing Fox News to broadcast false claims about the 2020 presidential election — claims that cost the broadcaster almost $800 million in a lawsuit.
Also joining the investigation is Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read, who oversees the Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund, which owns more than 250,000 shares of Fox stock. Both Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum and Read are Democrats.
“Treasurer Read and I believe that Fox’s board of directors breached its fiduciary duties by allowing Fox News to broadcast false claims that Dominion and Smartmatic rigged the 2020 presidential election,” Rosenblum said. “We hope to hold the board accountable and protect the long-term value of Oregon’s investment in Fox Corp.”
Brian Nick, chief communications officer and executive vice president of Fox Corp., declined to comment on Rosenblum’s announcement.
In April, Fox News agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787.5 million to avert a trial in the voting machine company’s lawsuit that would have exposed how the network promoted lies about the 2020 presidential election.
Dominion had argued that the news outlet owned by Fox Corp. damaged Dominion’s reputation by peddling phony conspiracy theories that claimed its equipment switched votes from former President Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden.
Lachlan Murdoch, chair and CEO of Fox Corp., said when the settlement was announced that it avoids “the acrimony of a divisive trial and a multiyear appeal process, a decision clearly in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.”
The Oregon Department of Justice said the investigation will explore leading a lawsuit against Fox’s management on behalf of the company’s harmed investors, which include Oregon’s public employees.
“Fox directors and senior officers manage the company on behalf of its investors,” the department said in a statement. “They have a duty to manage the company competently, honestly, and in a manner that prevents foreseeable and catastrophic financial harm like that inflicted upon company’s shareholders by the Dominion and Smartmatic suits.”
“We invest for Oregon’s public servants and we aim to hold Fox’s board of directors, including Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, accountable for their decisions,” said Read, who is a member of the Oregon Investment Council, which sets state investment policy. “Investigating Fox’s books and records is a necessary and significant step in fulfilling our obligation to our beneficiaries.”
As of May 26, the Oregon pension fund owned 168,075 Class A common stock shares and 92,850 Class B shares of Fox stock, said Roy Kaufmann, Rosenblum’s spokesperson.
Another voting machine company, Smartmatic USA, has also sued Fox News over Fox News’ bogus election claims. Dominion had sued Fox for $1.6 billion. | 2023-06-06T05:17:08+00:00 | kyma.com | https://kyma.com/news/2023/06/05/oregon-is-invested-in-fox-corp-and-is-investigating-its-board-over-bogus-election-fraud-claims/ |
Demolition crew saves abandoned litter of baby raccoons
MORGAN, Utah (AP) — An abandoned litter of raccoons discovered at a construction site in northern Utah found new homes earlier this week after a construction crew uncovered the animals below the remnants of a demolished home.
“A big-hearted foreman for the demolition crew working on Morgan Valley Drive came to the fire station asking for help,” the Morgan County Fire Department said in a statement on Wednesday. “After his crew knocked down an abandoned home, they heard chirping in the rubble.”
The eight baby raccoons appeared to have no mother. Firefighters cared for them until someone with permits to raise raccoons offered to adopt them.
Utah requires permits to home non-native species like raccoons or coyotes, which frequently roam wild.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | 2023-06-17T01:58:19+00:00 | wnem.com | https://www.wnem.com/2023/06/17/demolition-crew-saves-abandoned-litter-baby-raccoons/ |
Watch Sturgis Motorcycle Rally 2022 livestreams through downtown street cameras
The nation's largest motorcycle rally is once again returning to Sturgis this weekend.
Come Friday, Aug. 5, the 82nd annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally will be underway with a full concert lineup - which includes headliners such as Lynrd Skynyrd and Ice-T - and, of course, the famous motorcycle rally.
Last year's rally brought 550,000 participants to Sturgis, but if you can't make it to this year's rally, the city of Sturgis will be broadcasting it live from three downtown street cameras. The cameras are on year-round, according to the Sturgis rally website, and all three can be found below.
Live view of Lazelle Street
This is a live view of Lazelle Street, shot from a camera at Sturgis Liquor Store.
Junction and Main Street view from Sturgis Motorcycle Museum
The view at Junction and Main Street from a camera at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum.
Hotel Sturgis at Main Street and Harley Davidson Way view
Shot from a webcam at Hotel Sturgis, this view offers a glimpse of Main Street and Harley Davidson Way.
Erich Fisher is a digital producer with USA Today Networks. Reach him at efisher@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETFisher24. | 2022-08-03T18:04:38+00:00 | argusleader.com | https://www.argusleader.com/story/entertainment/2022/08/03/sturgis-motorcycle-rally-2022-live-feed-street-cameras-south-dakota/10212880002/ |
LONDON, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cryptocurrencies have suffered immensely during these past couple of months. May 2022 saw veteran blockchain networks such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL) and Terra (LUNA) rapidly decline in value. This has caused many active buyers to become apprehensive about purchasing crypto, due to its volatile and fluctuating nature.
However, the issues of fluctuation and volatility are not exclusive to the crypto market. An upcoming meme coin that plans to elevate the market through its sustainability is Big Eyes Coin (BIG), which people can trust in purchasing. Big Eyes Coin (BIG) is a newcomer to the crypto market and is still currently in its presale phase. The blockchain network describes itself as the 'ultimate meme coin platform', as it aims to divert wealth into the decentralised finance ecosystem while also protecting an important part of the world's atmosphere. Because the meme coin recognises that community tokens are money creators for charity, it wishes to build a platform that self-promotes hyper-growth by employing NFTs to give access to content and events.
The blockchain network's uniqueness primarily comes from its mascot, a cute cat with large glaring pupils. BIG's mascot also takes inspiration from Japanese culture by being designed in an anime/manga style. Big Eyes Coin developers recognise the appeal of cuteness, therefore plan to capitalise on this by having a distinct mascot, which they believe is targeting a billion-dollar industry. Big Eyes Coin also intends to debut on Uniswap, a popular decentralised trading system recognised for simplifying the exchange of decentralised financing tokens.
BIG also intends to launch a one-of-a-kind NFT collection where content providers may sell their work. They intend to have this collection reach the top 10 markets, with all earnings from these NFTs going towards a burn or not burn vote. Big Eyes Coin's sustainability comes in several ways. Firstly, it intends to be built on the Ethereum blockchain, which now plans to use proof-of-stake, a more energy-efficient consensus in comparison to proof-of-work.
This means that Big Eyes Coin will also inherit sustainability through its carbon-conscious methods, reducing 99.95%. Furthermore, the coin also seeks to be useful by including a charity wallet in which 80% of the 200,000,000 tokens accessible will be dedicated to ocean conservation efforts. BIG's distinct branding and well-versed sustainability makes it stand out in an oversaturated market. Buy now while it is still at a low cost.
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SOURCE Big Eyes | 2022-09-02T19:48:55+00:00 | kcbd.com | https://www.kcbd.com/prnewswire/2022/09/02/big-eyes-coin-meme-coin-that-incorporates-sustainability/ |
"To get by in China, a citizen learns to adjust to the gulf between the truth and the official truth. Officially, China is a 'People's Republic' that puts the worker first. Officially, China respects human rights. Officially, China's media report the news freely. Those who call attention to the gulf between these official truths and the unhappy reality are labeled confused, unpatriotic or evil — because, officially, no gulf exists."
This was how I began Time magazine's 2003 "Asian Newsmaker of the Year" citation for Dr. Jiang Yanyong, a Chinese military surgeon, who died March 11 at the age of 91.
The news Jiang made that year was exposing the Chinese government's cover-up of Beijing's outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. Just as COVID-19 would be in 2020, SARS was a deadly respiratory illness caused by a then-novel coronavirus. To Jiang, his act simply upheld "the most rudimentary standards" of his profession. It forced a collision of fact with official lies and created the space for other officials and doctors to tell the truth. This led to the ouster of China's health minister and Beijing's mayor — an unprecedented if tacit concession of error on the part of China's leaders — and saved an untold number of lives.
In the spring of 2003, SARS had been circulating in southern China and Hong Kong for several months. Some 2,300 people had been infected around the world. Rumor had it that the virus was now spreading within Beijing, where Jiang, then 71, was in semi-retirement after a career practicing and teaching surgery at one of China's top hospitals, run by the country's military.
China's health minister, Zhang Wenkang, himself a former military doctor, issued a statement on April 3, with the reassuring news that the capital had seen only 12 cases of SARS all of whom had contracted it outside of Beijing. On April 6, China's premier, Wen Jiabao, followed up to "warmly welcome friends worldwide to come to our country for tourism, visits or to engage in commercial activities," and asserted that "the Chinese government [was] fully capable of controlling the spread" of the illness.
Jiang watched these statements in disbelief. He knew that doctors and nurses in Beijing were contracting SARS while treating patients, who occupied hospital beds by the dozens. After talking to colleagues at his own hospital that he would describe as "furious" at Zhang and Wen's lies, he decided to sound the alarm. On April 4, he faxed a statement on the true spread of the disease to China's main state broadcaster and to a TV station in Hong Kong. He received no response.
I was a correspondent for Time in Beijing and was having a hard time reaching doctors who would speak to me. On April 8, I called a well-connected friend who'd grown up in Beijing and who I hoped might know some doctors. He was breathless when I answered. Apparently, he had been just about to call me. He asked me to call him back from a "safe" phone outside of the Time bureau. Once I did, he told me about Jiang's statement and said he'd send it right away.
A few minutes later, heart racing, I read the single printed page. It was unheard of for a person of Jiang's stature — as a chief of surgery at his military hospital his rank was equivalent to that of a U.S. major general — to directly contradict China's most senior leaders, let alone to do with his name and two home telephone numbers emblazoned atop his allegations. I dialed one of them. It took some cajoling but after a few minutes on the phone he agreed to meet me later that afternoon at a hotel near his hospital.
I returned to my office to read the statement more closely. It was just five paragraphs long. Jiang described how appalled he'd felt when he'd heard the health minister's statement, and then detailed why the official number of cases was an undercount. His own hospital moved a SARS patient to an infectious disease hospital, where 10 doctors and nurses fell ill. At another hospital, there were 60 cases and seven deaths. The official number of cases for all of Beijing that day was 19 with one death. Perhaps the most damning of his revelations was that medical personnel in Beijing knew in early March that SARS was spreading locally but had been forbidden to make that information public to "ensure stability" at two upcoming annual government meetings that would bring officials from all over the country to the capital to set China's policy agenda for the year ahead.
My phone rang as I was reading. Another source let me listen in on a conversation with a relative at a Beijing military hospital. That account matched Jiang's in nearly every detail.
After that corroboration, I headed to the Ruicheng Hotel to wait. I was the only foreigner in the lobby when Jiang arrived. He was tall, lean and dressed in an elegant hunter green blazer. He nodded and beckoned slightly before darting toward a flight of stairs, as though on his way to meet someone else. A tea house above the lobby was mostly empty and as we sat down, the gravity of what we were about to do hung awkwardly between us. He asked to see my copy of his statement and added updates and corrections. I could see he was tense and worried about diving into my questions. But after a few minutes, the waitress' elaborate ministrations over our tea broke the ice. Jiang raised his eyebrows and emitted a tiny smirk of exasperation. I grinned back. He winked.
Perhaps this was the trick of an experienced doctor, a good bedside manner, or maybe we somehow managed to put each other at ease. From there the conversation flowed smoothly. Jiang explained how he knew what he knew, his voice rising as he described how angry and frightened his colleagues were and the risk SARS posed to the general population. "If I were an ordinary person and started to run a fever," he said, "I wouldn't know to go to a hospital. I could be severely ill before I realized it was more than a cold." This was the fear that had impelled him to act.
We talked for about an hour, mostly in Chinese. Occasionally Jiang threw in a medical term or a couple of sentences in the clear unaccented English he'd learned as boy in Shanghai. The conversation was grave and clinical. He took pains to relate each of the many ways he had confirmed his information. And yet, at moments there was a certain lightness, an almost impish quality to the way he spoke to me. He was enjoying himself. In later years I'd come to realize that was part of who he was, a trait that had probably helped him to endure the political convulsions of China's previous several decades and his own persecution during the Cultural Revolution.
I worried he might not realize that publishing his statement in Time could bring him danger. Confident I had already corroborated most of his claims, I asked him if he wanted to remain anonymous. His refusal was adamant. He was telling the truth. It would be far more credible with his name attached, and he said he was prepared to face the consequences, whatever they might be.
We published that night. By the end of the next day, after Jiang fielded calls from dozens of reporters, the military instructed him to stop talking to foreigners. He called me to tell me this. But the following week, when a World Health Organization SARS inspection team visited Beijing hospitals, he still found a way to pass me information. Both military and civilian hospitals in Beijing had hidden SARS patients from the inspectors. One hospital moved the sick out of their ward to a hotel; another piled them into ambulances and drove them around the city until inspectors left. By that time, Jiang's courage had inspired other doctors and officials to speak out. Though most did so anonymously, they did so in numbers great enough to confirm the hidden patients. On April 20, Beijing bumped up its official SARS case count nearly tenfold and fired both the health minister and Beijing's mayor. The SARS outbreak spread to four continents before it was stopped in July 2003.
For a brief period, Jiang was treated as a national hero. As Beijing's streets emptied out in what looked like a foreshadowing of 2020, Jiang's name appeared on the front pages of China's leading newspapers. Pictures of him popped up on billboards near my office. I couldn't formally interview him, but he'd occasionally ride his bike to the hotel tea house to chat. He'd bring along things he thought I should read. I'd tell him about my reporting.
I suspect it was in part the astonishing efficacy of his SARS revelations and his avoidance of any serious retribution or punishment that emboldened Jiang to try again. The following spring would be the 15th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Jiang had spent the intervening decade and a half trying to process the outrage he felt at witnessing the violent deaths of civilians at the hands of the military he served. Jiang's hospital had been one of the closest to the area where the most killing had occurred. The 18 operating rooms he directed fielded 89 gunshot victims in the space of just two hours. In February of 2004, he sent a letter to China's top leaders (and again to the international press) describing what he had witnessed, recounting his conversations with Party elders about their regret, and calling for the official "verdict" on the massacre to be overturned.
This time, the consequences were swift and severe. Jiang and his wife Dr. Hua Zhongwei were detained. I would learn later they were subjected to a terrifying and exhausting period of daily interrogation and indoctrination. In Jiang's case, some of the focus was on trying to convince him he had imagined what he had witnessed in his operating room, images he'd said "he would never forget as long as he lived."
Eventually, unrepentant but shaken, he was allowed to return home under close surveillance that would tighten and loosen for the rest of his life. The lightness I'd seen in him during that first interview remained undimmed. We met for lunch near my house in 2005 or 2006 and he joked that his newly undyed white hair was "more truthful" now that he'd gone "au naturale." He showed up dressed in a crisp shirt at my engagement party in Beijing during the 2008 Olympics. He was en route to watch an Olympic basketball match and regaled a group of us with tales of his exploits on his high school team.
We last met in December of 2015 at what by that point was "our hotel." As usual, he'd ridden his bike to our meeting. He brought along a small laptop and spent much of our time together showing me, with evident pride, pictures of recent surgeries he had performed. At the age of 84, he still loved being a doctor.
I can only imagine what it must have felt like for him to witness the outbreak and spread of COVID, the history repeating itself in the early days during the cover-up, the silencing of the whistleblower Dr. Li Wenliang in Wuhan or the chaos that attended the end of China's "zero-COVID" policy that led to his own infection and likely to his death. I found myself wondering what might have happened if someone of his seniority had spoken out earlier in Wuhan. I wondered what he made of how badly the U.S. had handled its own outbreak.
Two decades since SARS and three long years into COVID, with the walls of secrecy and silence Jiang pierced now rebuilt, his funeral on March 15 was small and closed to the public. I have seen no mention of his death in China's official media. During the height of his celebrity in 2003 when people around China called him a hero, Jiang was fond of saying he'd be content to be remembered as a doctor who told the truth. We'll have to try.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-03-18T13:10:04+00:00 | mtpr.org | https://www.mtpr.org/2023-03-18/military-surgeon-jiang-yanyong-the-doctor-who-spoke-the-truth-about-sars |
DETROIT (AP) _ The winning numbers in Sunday evening's drawing of the Michigan Lottery's "Fantasy 5 Double Play" game were:
01-08-09-13-14
(one, eight, nine, thirteen, fourteen)
DETROIT (AP) _ The winning numbers in Sunday evening's drawing of the Michigan Lottery's "Fantasy 5 Double Play" game were:
01-08-09-13-14
(one, eight, nine, thirteen, fourteen) | 2022-10-03T01:22:30+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Fantasy-5-Double-Play-17482189.php |
By UPENDRA MAN SINGH, SHEIKH SAALIQ and ANISH BHATTARAI (Associated Press)
POKHARA, Nepal (AP) — A plane making a 27-minute flight to a Nepal tourist town crashed into a gorge Sunday while attempting to land at a newly opened airport, killing at least 68 of the 72 people aboard. At least one witness reported hearing cries for help from within the fiery wreck, the country’s deadliest airplane accident in three decades.
Hours after dark, scores of onlookers crowded around the crash site near the airport in the resort town of Pokhara as rescue workers combed the wreckage on the edge of the cliff and in the ravine below. Officials suspended the search for the four missing people overnight and planned to resume looking Monday.
Local resident Bishnu Tiwari, who rushed to the crash site near the Seti River to help search for bodies, said the rescue efforts were hampered by thick smoke and a raging fire.
“The flames were so hot that we couldn’t go near the wreckage. I heard a man crying for help, but because of the flames and smoke we couldn’t help him,” Tiwari said.
It was not immediately clear what caused the accident, Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority said.
A witness said he saw the aircraft spinning violently in the air after it began descending to land, watching from the terrace of his house. Finally, Gaurav Gurung said, the plane fell nose-first towards its left and crashed into the gorge.
The aviation authority said the aircraft last made contact with the airport from near Seti Gorge at 10:50 a.m. before crashing.
The twin-engine ATR 72 aircraft, operated by Nepal’s Yeti Airlines, was flying from the capital, Kathmandu, to Pokhara, located 200 kilometers (125 miles) west. It was carrying 68 passengers including 15 foreign nationals, as well as four crew members, Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement. The foreigners included five Indians, four Russians, two South Koreans, and one each from Ireland, Australia, Argentina and France.
Images and videos shared on Twitter showed plumes of smoke billowing from the crash site, about 1.6 kilometers (nearly a mile) away from Pokhara International Airport. The aircraft’s fuselage was split into multiple parts that were scattered down the gorge.
Firefighters carried bodies, some burned beyond recognition, to hospitals where grief-stricken relatives had assembled. At Kathmandu airport, family members appeared distraught as they were escorted in and at times exchanged heated words with officials as they waited for information.
Tek Bahadur K. C., a senior administrative officer in the Kaski district, said he expected rescue workers to find more bodies at the bottom of the gorge.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who rushed to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu after the crash, set up a panel to investigate the accident.
”The incident was tragic. The full force of the Nepali army, police has been deployed for rescue,” he said.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it’s still trying to confirm the fate of two South Korean passengers and has sent staff to the scene. The Russian Ambassador to Nepal, Alexei Novikov, confirmed the death of four Russian citizens who were on board the plane.
Pokhara is the gateway to the Annapurna Circuit, a popular hiking trail in the Himalayas. The city’s new international airport began operations only two weeks ago.
The type of plane involved, the ATR 72, has been used by airlines around the world for short regional flights. Introduced in the late 1980s by a French and Italian partnership, the aircraft model has been involved in several deadly accidents over the years.
In Taiwan two earlier accidents involving ATR 72-500 and ATR 72-600 aircrafts happened just months apart.
In July 2014, a TransAsia ATR 72-500 flight crashed while trying to land on the scenic Penghu archipelago between Taiwan and China, killing 48 people onboard. An ATR 72-600 operated by the same Taiwanese airline crashed shortly after takeoff in Taipei in February 2015 after one of its engines failed and the second was shut down, apparently by mistake.
The 2015 crash, captured in dramatic footage that showed the plane striking a taxi as it hurtled out of control, killed 43, and prompted authorities to ground all Taiwanese-registered ATR 72s for some time. TransAsia ceased all flights in 2016 and later went out of business.
ATR identified the plane involved in Sunday’s crash as an ATR 72-500 in a tweet. According to plane tracking data from flightradar24.com, the aircraft was 15 years old and “equipped with an old transponder with unreliable data.” It was previously flown by India’s Kingfisher Airlines and Thailand’s Nok Air before Yeti took it over in 2019, according to records on Airfleets.net.
Yeti Airlines has a fleet of six ATR72-500 planes, company spokesperson Sudarshan Bartaula said.
Nepal, home to eight of the world’s 14 highest mountains, including Mount Everest, has a history of air crashes. According to the Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety database, there have been 42 fatal plane crashes in Nepal since 1946.
Sunday’s crash is Nepal’s deadliest since 1992, when all 167 people aboard a Pakistan International Airlines plane were killed when it plowed into a hill as it tried to land in Kathmandu.
The European Union has banned airlines from Nepal from flying into the 27-nation bloc since 2013, citing weak safety standards. In 2017, the International Civil Aviation Organization cited improvements in Nepal’s aviation sector, but the EU continues to demand administrative reforms.
___
Saaliq reported from New Delhi. Elise Morton in London, Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, and Adam Schreck in Bangkok contributed reporting.
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DoD to evaluate Muon Space satellite data for operational use
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Muon Space has been awarded an option to their contract with Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLMC)'s Weather Systems Branch and the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to collect ionospheric data on their MuSat-2 satellite mission. The performance period for this contract is two years extending through September 2024. This is an optional expansion in scope to the original contract awarded to Muon Space in September 2022 to develop a space-based prototype for global weather sensing.
"Muon Space is honored by the Air Force, Space Force and DIU's belief in our capabilities to bring new insights to DoD weather and ionospheric models with new data to include soil moisture, ocean winds, and total electron content. We're excited to showcase the operational relevance of this commercial space dataset to the DoD," said Muon Space CEO Jonny Dyer.
The Department of Defense (DoD) will evaluate the commercial data from Muon Space's MuSat-2 satellite for operational use in weather forecasting, ionospheric modeling, impact applications and climate change assessments. Data collected during this pilot will be made accessible for use in government-run Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) and to evaluate improvements to the USAF's current and emerging suite of numerical weather prediction and AI/ML modeling. The resultant data and interfaces from this effort will be compatible with the USAF's Weather Virtual Private Cloud.
About Muon Space: Founded in 2021, Muon Space is launching a new generation of smallsats and sensors to monitor Earth's climate and ecosystems with unprecedented fidelity. Muon Space's state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Silicon Valley is optimized for manufacturing spacecraft and integrating payloads at scale. Regular launches began in June 2023, providing ever-increasing data sets addressing important geophysical and environmental applications and a platform to deliver new technologies to space. Muon Space's experienced science and engineering teams are uniquely suited to deliver the most exquisite and reliable remote sensing solutions at the speed and scale required to address our most urgent climate challenges.
Effort sponsored by the U.S. Government under Other Transaction number FA8730-22-9-0007 between the COMPANY and the Government. The U.S. Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Governmental purposes notwithstanding any copyright notation thereon.
The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies or endorsements, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Government.
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SOURCE Muon Space | 2023-07-11T13:36:48+00:00 | kxii.com | https://www.kxii.com/prnewswire/2023/07/11/muon-space-awarded-additional-funding-aflmc-diu-collect-space-weather-data/ |
NORTHBROOK, Ill., Jan. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilco Merchant Resources is excited to announce the addition of Mike Dwyer to the team. Mr. Dwyer will serve as Executive Vice President, Head of Operations with a focus on the implementation, management, and execution of all deal-related functions and operating goals for the group. Mr. Dwyer has 18 years of retail experience and over 21 years of experience leading operations teams.
"We're thrilled to have Mike join our team," said Ben Nortman – CEO of Hilco Global Retail Group. He continues, "With his decades of experience in operations, specifically the retail space, Mike will make a positive impact on the team in the upcoming year."
Before joining Hilco Merchant Resources, Mr. Dwyer was the Senior Regional Director of Operations at a dental support organization. In this role, he developed and implemented best practices and strategies to maximize the return on investment of each independent dental office that the organization acquired. Prior to this, Mr. Dwyer spent 18 years in the retail space leading large teams to deliver maximum profit for the company and its shareholders. He spent three years as the Director of Stores at Skechers, responsible for the daily operations of 250 US and Puerto Rico stores. Most of his retail career was with Target Corporation in multiple roles. The most recent being Senior Regional Director of Operations, leading daily operations, remodeling, opening, and closing stores in the Midwest.
He is a graduate of Illinois State University with a BA in Marketing. Mr. Dwyer will be based in Northbrook, IL.
About Hilco Merchant Resources:
Hilco Merchant Resources (www.hilcomerchantresources.com) provides a wide range of analytical, advisory, asset monetization, and capital investment services to help define and execute a retailer's strategic initiatives. The firm's activities fall into several principal categories, including acquisitions; disposition of underperforming stores; retail company or division wind downs; event sales to convert unwanted assets into working capital; interim company, division, or store management teams; loss prevention; and the monetization of furniture, fixtures, and equipment.
Hilco Global Retail Group is part of Northbrook, Illinois-based Hilco Global, the world's leading authority on maximizing the value of business assets by delivering valuation, monetization, and advisory solutions to an international marketplace. Hilco Global operates twenty specialized business units around the world. For more information, please visit: (www.hilcoglobal.com).
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SOURCE Hilco Merchant Resources, LLC | 2023-01-25T16:33:41+00:00 | kwtx.com | https://www.kwtx.com/prnewswire/2023/01/25/hilco-merchant-resources-announces-addition-mike-dwyer-executive-vice-president-head-operations/ |
College students from Virginia volunteer time to help Kansas City’s homeless population
By Alan Shope
Click here for updates on this story
KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — For many area college and universities it’s spring break week, ut not all students are looking for time off during that break.
A group of students from James Madison University in Virginia drove 14 hours to Kansas City to donate their time to help the homeless.
Instead of being on a beach, James Madison student Christopher Johnson is sorting out cloths donated to the Sheffield Place in Kansas City.
“I hope to learn more about how to approach clients who have had difficult experiences in their past,” Johnson said.
The Sheffield Place provides housing for some in the Kansas City area battling homelessness and addiction, and for that reason, Johnson wanted to spend the week here.
He is just one of several students that decided to spend their spring break in Kansas City this week, doing all kinds of jobs from helping clean, to playing with kids of families dealing with challenges.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform. | 2023-03-17T16:48:56+00:00 | localnews8.com | https://localnews8.com/news/2023/03/17/college-students-from-virginia-volunteer-time-to-help-kansas-citys-homeless-population/ |
Survey: 43% of US parents say they won’t get young children vaccinated for COVID-19
(CNN) - More parents are choosing not to have their young children vaccinated for COVID-19.
Tuesday, a Kaiser Family Foundation study revealed that 43% of U.S. parents of children younger than 5 say they will not get their child vaccinated.
That’s the highest percentage in the year the survey has been asking the question.
Researchers also found only 17% of parents of children between 6 months and 5 years old said their child has been vaccinated or will be as soon as possible.
Parents’ responses correlated with partisanship.
According to the survey, 21% of Democrat-leaning parents said they wouldn’t vaccinate their young child, compared with 64% of Republican-leaning parents.
The Food and Drug Administration authorized COVID-19 vaccinations in children as young as 6 months in mid-June.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | 2022-07-26T13:58:38+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/2022/07/26/survey-43-us-parents-say-they-wont-get-young-children-vaccinated-covid-19/ |
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Monday evening's drawing of the Illinois Lottery's "Lotto" game were:
06-08-21-34-36-39, Extra Shot: 24
(six, eight, twenty-one, thirty-four, thirty-six, thirty-nine; Extra Shot: twenty-four)
Estimated jackpot: $3,950,000 | 2022-05-24T03:14:16+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Lotto-game-17193918.php |
LAKE TAHOE, Calif. -- Trash as far as the eye can see on the shores of Lake Tahoe Wednesday morning. Following the 4th of July holiday, parts of the lake look more like a dumpsite than one of the country's most beautiful places.
"There was no accident about it. People partied, trashed and left it like that," said Colin West.
West is the founder of the Tahoe-based nonprofit, Clean Up the Lake.
"Everything under the sun. Shoes, flip flops, socks, hats, coolers," West said.
West says he and a group of volunteers spent the entire day Wednesday cleaning up the mess left behind by visitors. That includes trash both on the beaches and also inside the lake itself.
West tells me the group picked up over 8,500 pounds of garbage in one day.
"This has definitely been one of the worst cleanups that I have been involved in in any single day," West said.
Beyond the inconvenience, West and other locals say it's the environmental impact that has them worried.
Riley McClaughry is an animal photographer and filmmaker. He says he went out early Wednesday morning to try and see some wildlife.
But when he saw the mess that had been left behind, he decided to join the cleanup effort instead.
"There's nothing worse than seeing such a beautiful animal gorge itself on garbage and trash and plastic," McClaughry said.
While the Tahoe Basin has long been a tourist destination, many locals feel this has to stop.
That's why West is calling on all visitors to do their part to make sure this doesn't happen again.
"You're here because it's beautiful. Because it's an amazing experience to enjoy what we have in the Tahoe Basin. So we need everyone to do their best to protect it," West said. | 2023-07-06T23:34:41+00:00 | abc30.com | https://abc30.com/lake-tahoe-tahoe-4th-of-july-trash-clean-up-the-garbage-left-at-dirty/13470332/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — Michelle Obama says it helps to focus on what you can control when you feel out of control.
Among the things she could control during the death and isolation of the pandemic, the racial unrest and threats to democracy were her spools of yarn and her knitting needles.
She labels such thinking the “power of small,” and she writes in her new book, “The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times,” that by focusing on a small task like knitting she was able to get through the worry, anxiety and stress of the past few unsettling years.
“The interesting thing about knitting and using your hands and making something is that it is meditative,” the former first lady said Tuesday night at the Warner Theater in Washington, where she kicked off a monthlong, six-city publicity tour to promote the book.
“In so many ways, it is like a faith,” she said, seated on stage with a friend, former daytime talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres, who engaged Mrs. Obama in nearly 90 minutes of often humorous conversation. “It’s a thing that shuts your worrying mind and lets your hands take over.”
And therein lies the power, she said.
“I think about the knit and the purl, and the knit and the purl, and a row and a row and a row,” the former first lady said, naming different stitches and techniques used in knitting. “And if you keep it up, and you’re focused, you have a sweater.”
In the book, published Tuesday, she shares the contents of her “personal toolbox” — the habits and practices, attitudes and beliefs, and even physical objects that she uses to overcome her feelings of fear, helplessness and self doubt.
“This book is meant to show you what I keep there and why, what I use professionally and personally to help me stay balanced and confident, what keeps me moving forward even during times of high anxiety and stress,” she wrote in the introduction.
The 58-year-old wife of former President Barack Obama and mother of adult daughters Malia and Sasha wrote that the book, her third, is not a how-to manual, but rather is a “series of honest reflections on what my life has taught me so far.”
“Keep in mind, too, that everything I know, all the various tools I lean on, have come to me only through trial and error, over years of constant practice and reevaluation,” she wrote. “I spent decades learning on my feet, making mistakes, adjustments, and course corrections as I went. I’ve progressed only slowly to where I am today.”
“The Light We Carry” is Mrs. Obama’s first new work since the 2018 release of her bestselling memoir, “Becoming,” which has sold more than 17 million copies worldwide, by far the most popular book by a previous first lady or modern president, including her husband.
As first lady, she wrote “American Grown,” a book about the produce garden she had planted at the White House in 2009.
Mrs. Obama opened the tour in Washington and has events planned at Philadelphia’s The Met, Atlanta’s Fox Theatre, the Chicago Theatre and San Francisco’s Masonic before the tour closes at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles.
Seated in a plush purple chair on stage at the nearly 100-year-old Washington theater, Mrs. Obama discussed her feelings after the 2016 election in which her husband was succeeded by Donald Trump. Coincidentally, Trump announced a third run for president during her appearance.
“If you guys recall, I said, ‘Don’t vote for this guy,'” she said, meaning Trump, who sought to undo much of Obama’s record as president. “It hurt because you wonder — was it a rebuke of the eight years, the sacrifice we made? Was it complacency? What was it?”
The former first lady also discussed overcoming her fear of change and coming to the realization that she could not stand in the way of her husband’s desire to run for president in 2008. He had given her veto power over his decision.
“Opportunity is on the other side of that,” she said, speaking of fear.
She also talked about the pandemic, saying her family handled it better than most because they were already used to isolation from the eight years they lived in the White House “bubble.”
She spoke about how hard it was as first lady — and still is — to make new friends she can trust, and how fun it is to watch her daughters “adult” as they share an apartment in California. The girls had returned to Washington to live with their parents during the pandemic.
Sasha had completed one semester at the University of Michigan before she came back home. Malia, who was enrolled at Harvard, spent her senior year at home and ended up missing out on a graduation ceremony because of COVID-19. So her parents staged a ceremony in their backyard, complete with commencement speakers.
“It was me, and Barack,” Mrs. Obama said, laughing. “We told her how lucky she was. She got us both.” | 2022-11-17T05:24:57+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/news/national/ap-michelle-obama-opens-tour-for-new-book-the-light-we-carry/ |
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Trav Robertson, the leader of South Carolina's Democrats, said Wednesday that he won't seek another term as party chair as the state prepares to host the party's first 2024 presidential primary in the nation.
“With the hard work of our leadership — with the teamwork of many — we have made so much progress," Robertson told The Associated Press ahead of an official announcement. "I look forward to building on these relationships and serving South Carolina into the future.”
Robertson has led the state's Democrats since 2017, when he took over from Jaime Harrison, who's now chair of the Democratic National Committee.
While the party's national prominence has risen, most recently when the DNC voted to make South Carolina the first voting state on its 2024 presidential primary calendar, South Carolina's Democrats have struggled to notch electoral wins at many levels of office.
Winless in statewide elections since 2006, Democrats hold only one of the state's seven U.S. House seats. The party last won a Senate race in 1998, and Jimmy Carter was the last Democrat to carry the state in a presidential election.
There have been some successes, however. In 2018, Joe Cunningham became the first Democrat to flip a House seat from red to blue in South Carolina in decades, though he lost his reelection bid two years later.
Already, at least one candidate has jumped into the race to succeed Robertson. Christale Spain, a longtime Democratic political operative, would be the first Black woman to chair the party if elected. Robertson said he would support Spain’s bid.
Spain became the executive director of the state Democratic Party in 2016, worked as political director for Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign and served as Sen. Cory Booker's state director for his 2020 White House bid. She founded 46 Hope Road, a political action committee aimed at energizing voters who had been inactive since President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, and worked on Black voter engagement for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for the 2022 midterms.
Also vying for the chairmanship is Brandon Upson, a progressive Democrat who has served as chair of the state party’s Black Caucus. He was an adviser to Tom Steyer’s presidential campaign in South Carolina in 2020. Since then, Upson founded Amplify Action, a national voter registration and mobilization effort.
South Carolina Democrats will select their next party chair at their spring convention.
___
Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP.
___
This story has been corrected to show Spain’s job with Sen. Booker was on his White House bid, not his reelection bid. | 2023-02-22T15:22:22+00:00 | ksat.com | https://www.ksat.com/news/politics/2023/02/22/chair-of-south-carolina-democrats-isnt-seeking-reelection/ |
SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Sky Quarry Inc. ("Sky Quarry", "SQI" or the "Company"), an environmental remediation company focused on the recycling of waste asphalt shingles, is pleased to announce its equity offering under Regulation A+ (the "Offering") hosted on Equifund.com (https://equifund.com) has reached its maximum. Accordingly, the Board of Directors has directed that the Offering will be closed on September 30, 2022.
Sky Quarry owns a state-of-the-art processing facility in Utah and has developed a proprietary process for breaking down and producing oil from waste asphalt shingles.
"We are extremely proud to see the Company's Offering is fully subscribed", said David Sealock, CEO and Co-Founder. "We are grateful for the investors' support as we continue to make progress in retrofitting the PR Spring facility. During this process, we are committed to providing regular progress updates with full transparency and accuracy that aligns with our strong governance practices."
This opportunity is being offered pursuant to Regulation A by Digital Offering, LLC, an SEC registered broker-dealer, and member of FINRA and SIPC. Investors are encouraged to carefully review the Offering Circular and exhibits prior to investing.
Additional information on the Company and the Offering can be found on the Company's website at https://equifund.com/skyquarry/.
This press release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities of the Company have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States, unless an exemption from such registration is available.
About Sky Quarry Inc.
Sky Quarry is an environmental remediation company, founded with the mission to solve the problem created by waste asphalt shingles. Our purpose led mission is to conserve resources through recycling, decrease landfill waste, reduce emissions and dependence on foreign oil, and embed long term sustainability.
Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is defined in applicable securities legislation. The words "may", "would", "could", "should", "potential", "will", "seek", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions as they relate to Sky Quarry are intended to identify forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Company's current views and intentions with respect to future events, and current information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the actual results that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information to vary from those described herein should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made or given by or on behalf of the Company or any of its affiliates, directors, officers or employees as to the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information or opinions contained herein and no responsibility or liability is accepted by any person for such information or opinions.
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SOURCE Sky Quarry Inc | 2022-09-20T04:10:10+00:00 | newschannel10.com | https://www.newschannel10.com/prnewswire/2022/09/20/sky-quarry-announces-full-subscription-reg-offering/ |
Doug Emhoff knew that he and Vice President Kamala Harris would be making history as the country's first female vice president and first second gentleman, respectively.
But he quickly realized that his gender wasn't the only aspect of his identity that resonated with people.
"I really thought that would be the big deal," he says. "As it turned out, that's 1, but 1a. Right behind it is being the first Jewish person in this role."
Emhoff, a former California entertainment lawyer, stepped into the role as the first Jewish spouse of a U.S. president or vice president at a particularly fraught time.
Antisemitic incidents and beliefs are on the rise in the U.S., both online and in-person, from everyday settings like college campuses and local synagogues to the high-profile stages of sports, entertainment and politics.
Emhoff has been alarmed by what he calls a pervasive and interconnected "epidemic of hate going on throughout the world." And while he may not have set out to wage a public campaign against antisemitism, he's grown increasingly vocal about it in recent months.
In an interview with NPR's Asma Khalid, Emhoff says one of the main messages he and the Biden administration want to share is that "we have your back."
"We're working on a national plan for antisemitism and combating hate," he says. "But I also want people to be proud of who they are. Like, I love being Jewish. I'm proud of being Jewish. I want everyone, however they are, just to be proud of that so they can be able to live openly, freely, safely, without fear."
Emhoff's recent efforts include holding an antisemitism roundtable with Jewish leaders, meeting with lawmakers and students on the topic and visiting Poland and Germany last month to promote Holocaust awareness.
There he visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, as well as the Polish village where his ancestors lived. Some of them moved to the U.S. some 120 years ago; others were "shot in the town square" during the Holocaust.
"This is a shared experience of millions and millions of people," Emhoff says. "But I got to experience that. It's very personal."
Antisemitism has taken on a political dimension, too. For example, former President Donald Trump — who is running for reelection — had dinner in November with white nationalist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes, and Ye, the rapper whose antisemitic rhetoric has been linked an uptick in bigoted harassment and vandalism across the country.
Emhoff is using his political platform to help fight hate. But he stresses that tackling antisemitism is not a partisan effort.
"There's no two sides to hate. There's no two sides to antisemitism. There's no two sides to denying the fact that the Holocaust happened," he says. "And so when so-called purported leaders, people in leadership, people who have big microphones, espouse antisemitic tropes, who deny that the Holocaust happened, then that's not partisan at all. I mean, we all must speak up, speak out and call out when things like that happen."
Emhoff spoke with Khalid about what it's like being second gentleman, both when it comes to representing American Jews and being there for his own family.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Interview highlights
On his visit to Auschwitz for International Holocaust Remembrance Day last month
I had seen, like many people have seen, pictures of concentration camps. And you've seen the grainy photographs, the horrible images. And until you actually step up to that gate and you see the barbed wire, the silence, the coldness, you can literally see the despair and the desolation, and then you see the ovens where people were cremated. And you see they've saved thousands of pairs of shoes, many of them children's shoes. So you see the shoes. You see the eyeglasses that were taken off, the human hair. It is so overwhelming to experience that and to imagine what went on there.
On the importance of Jewish representation
I really started to feel how big a deal that was with the first Passover seder that we did virtually, year one of the administration, and I think tens of thousands of people tuned into that. And I cannot tell you how many people, when I was out and about traveling the country and the world, would come up to me, or my parents would tell me how many people that affected and impacted and some were in tears. They never thought they'd see a Jewish person in this role.
And I really then leaned into it and just decided to continue to live openly as I had as a Jewish person. And that included hanging a mezuzah on the wall of the front door of the residence, having a live seder for Passover the next year, celebrating Rosh Hashanah at the White House for the first time, and all these things that everyday Jews do in their own homes — but doing it here as second gentleman, and it's really had an impact.
On the job advice he got from former second ladies
[First Lady Jill Biden's] main advice, and I followed it pretty much to a tee .. is just be yourself. ... And it's just, I think, really served me well in the role. I had a nice chat with Mrs. [Karen] Pence. She gave me some great practical advice. ... I had a nice talk with Mrs. [Tipper] Gore, who really told me about the history of the residence and some of the things that they had done there, also what it was like for them to raise a family there and having kids in the spotlight like that. So it's been very helpful for me.
On why his supporting role matters
I want to also be able to make sure there are more Kamala Harrises out there. I don't want anyone to look at me and think, "Wow, I'm not going to go put myself out there in public service because that Doug Emhoff guy was not supportive." I want to be as supportive as I can to help her in her incredibly intense job of being vice president, but I also understand that people are watching me and watching how I do this. I want to make sure I'm setting as good an example as I can in this role, so we have more women in leadership. We need that.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-02-17T10:21:24+00:00 | kanw.com | https://www.kanw.com/2023-02-17/doug-emhoff-has-made-antisemitism-his-issue-but-says-its-everyones-job-to-fight-it |
A Collaborative Vaporizer That Offers Fast Heat Activation and an Intuitive Experience
LOS ANGELES, March 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Two powerhouses, Grenco Science (G Pen), the leader in advanced technology cannabis vaporization, and TYSON 2.0, legendary boxer, entrepreneur and advocate Mike Tyson's cannabis brand, teamed up to introduce a palm-sized, portable dry herb vaporizer. The TYSON 2.0 x G Pen Dash allows consumers to experience their favorite strains and is a fresh take on G Pen's essential vaporizer in TYSON 2.0's signature colorway. The TYSON 2.0 x G Pen Dash launches in stores nationwide and online March 1st, 2023 at gpen.com/tyson.
"We are excited to announce the launch of the Tyson 2.0 Dash as our first collaboration of 2023. This partnership illustrates our alignment with Mike (the g.o.a.t.) on our top selling dry herb product. We are very proud of this partnership and excited to see its impact in the market", says Chris Folkerts, CEO of Grenco Science.
"Combining our signature strains and Grenco's state of the art technology, we've developed the TYSON 2.0 x G Pen Dash to provide an elevated consumption experience that's accessible to the masses. It's a privilege aligning with Grenco to continue fulfilling our mission of delivering high-quality cannabis products," said Mike Tyson, Chief Brand Officer and Co-Founder of TYSON 2.0.
The collaborative vaporizer is the perfect marriage of G Pen's signature technology and TYSON 2.0's powerful iconography. Pre-programmed with 3 temperature settings, the TYSON 2.0 x G Pen Dash is engineered for an intuitive and satisfying experience. It features a glass-glazed stainless steel heating chamber combined with a clean air source and integrated air path for unsurpassed flavor and vapor production from your favorite TYSON 2.0 strains.
TYSON 2.0 x G Pen Dash Key Features:
- Ergonomic, easy-load chamber opening
- Three temperature settings, 375°F, 401° F, 428°F
- Session mode/Automatic shut-off
- Magnetic mouthpiece with integrated airpath
- Glass-glazed stainless steel heating chamber
- Compact, lightweight, and durable aluminum-alloy body
- Haptic feedback
- Pass-through charging via micro usb
- 950mah battery
- Tool with keychain
- 1 Year warranty
The TYSON 2.0 x G Pen Dash retails for $79.95 and will be available in stores nationwide and online at gpen.com.
About
Grenco Science, which launched in 2012, celebrates 10 years as a leader in engineering advanced cannabis vaporizers, setting new standards in aesthetics, portability, functionality, and user experience. Through proprietary research and development, as well as collaborations with influencers in music, art, and fashion, Grenco Science is transforming the cannabis experience and leading the movement to bring cannabis traditions to the 21st century. Visit gpen.com.
About TYSON 2.0
TYSON 2.0 is a premier cannabis company formed with legendary boxer, entrepreneur and icon Mike Tyson. The company's mission is to produce innovative, high-quality cannabis products known for purity, precision, and wide accessibility. Providing consumers an outstanding selection of products, TYSON 2.0 is an extraordinary balance of premium and affordable, full-spectrum cannabis flower, concentrates and consumables available at retailers nationwide. Learn more at Tyson20.com.
For Media Inquiries
Rio PR
Georgia Mack
georgia@riopr.com
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SOURCE GPen | 2023-03-01T16:09:44+00:00 | mysuncoast.com | https://www.mysuncoast.com/prnewswire/2023/03/01/mike-tysons-brand-tyson-20-teams-up-with-grenco-science-launches-tyson-20-x-g-pen-dash/ |
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NEW YORK (AP) — A former U.S. congressman from Indiana, technology company executives, a man training to be an FBI agent, and an investment banker were among nine people charged in four separate and unrelated insider trading schemes revealed on Monday with the unsealing of indictments in New York City.
It was one of the most significant attacks by law enforcement on insider trading in a decade, and a prosecutor and other federal officials pledged fresh enthusiasm for similar prosecutions in the future. They said the cheating resulted in millions of dollars of illegal profits for defendants situated on both coasts and in middle America.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams told a news conference that the cases, in addition to several other recently announced crackdowns on insider trading, represent a follow through on his pledge to be “relentless in rooting out crime in our financial markets.”
“We have zero tolerance, zero tolerance for cheating in our markets,” said Gurbir S. Grewal, director of the SEC Enforcement Division.
An indictment identified Stephen Buyer as someone who misappropriated secrets he learned as a consultant to make $350,000 illegally. Buyer served on committees with oversight over the telecommunications industry while a Republican congressman from 1993 through 2011, the indictment said.
Buyer, arrested Monday in Indiana, was accused in court papers of engaging in insider trading during a merger of T-Mobile and Sprint, among other deals. Documents said he leveraged his work as a consultant and lobbyist to make illegal profits.
His lawyer, Andrew Goldstein, said in a statement: “Congressman Buyer is innocent. His stock trades were lawful. He looks forward to being quickly vindicated.”
In a civil case brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission in Manhattan federal court against Buyer, he was described as making purchases of Sprint securities in March 2018 just a day after attending a golf outing with a T-Mobile executive who told him about the company's then-nonpublic plan to acquire Sprint.
“When insiders like Buyer — an attorney, a former prosecutor, and a retired Congressman — monetize their access to material, nonpublic information, as alleged in this case, they not only violate the federal securities laws, but also undermine public trust and confidence in the fairness of our markets,” Grewal said.
He told the news conference that the arrests were not only meant to send a signal to financial industry professionals to protect secrets and follow the law, but also were “intended to send an equally strong message to the investing public” that regulators and law enforcement were focusing on keeping the markets clean.
In a second prosecution, three executives at Silicon Valley technology companies were charged with trading on inside information about corporate mergers that one of them learned about from his employer.
In a third case, a man who was training to be an FBI agent allegedly stole inside information from his then-girlfriend who was working at a major Washington D.C. law firm. According to court papers, he and a friend made more than $1.4 million in illegal profits after he learned that Merck & Co. was going to acquire Pandion Therapeutics.
In a fourth indictment, an investment banker based in New York was charged with sharing secrets about potential mergers with another with an understanding that the pair would share illegal profits of about $280,000. | 2022-07-25T18:49:38+00:00 | lmtonline.com | https://www.lmtonline.com/business/article/Ex-US-congressman-among-9-charged-in-insider-17327019.php |
By ALAN FRAM
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats want to boost taxes on some high earners and use the money to extend the solvency of Medicare, the latest step in the party’s election-year attempt to craft a scaled-back version of the economic package that collapsed last year, Democratic aides told The Associated Press.
Democrats expect to submit legislative language on their Medicare plan to the Senate’s parliamentarian in the next few days, the aides said. It was the latest sign that Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., could be edging toward a compromise the party hopes to push through Congress this summer over solid Republican opposition. Manchin scuttled last year’s bill.
Under the latest proposal, people earning more than $400,000 a year and couples making more than $500,000 would have to pay a 3.8% tax on their earnings from tax-advantaged businesses called pass throughs. Until now, many of them have been using a loophole to avoid paying that levy.
That would raise an estimated $203 billion over a decade, which Democrats say would be used to delay until 2031 a shortfall in the Medicare trust fund that pays for hospital care. That fund is currently projected to start running out of money in 2028, three years earlier.
Most U.S. businesses are pass throughs, which include partnerships and sole proprietorships and range from one-person law practices to some large companies. Owners count the profits as income when they pay individual income taxes, but such companies do not pay corporate taxes — meaning they avoid paying two levels of taxation.
Democrats this week also sent the parliamentarian a separate 190-page piece of the emerging Schumer-Manchin compromise that would lower prescription drug costs for patients and the government. Provisions include requiring Medicare to negotiate drug prices, limiting beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket costs to $2,000 annually and increasing federal subsidies for copays and premiums for some low-income people.
With November elections for control of Congress approaching, Democrats hope the two proposals will be a remedy for a campaign season that so far looks bleak. Republicans are favored to win a majority in the House and could do the same in the Senate.
Democrats say both plans will show voters they are battling to curb health care costs and protect the widely popular Medicare program, positions they say will be dangerous for Republicans to oppose. Polls show widespread public alarm over recent months’ historically high inflation rates, supply chain problems and other economic issues that along with President Joe Biden’s dismal popularity ratings are pushing voters Republicans’ way, the GOP says.
Schumer and Manchin have been bargaining privately for weeks on a package aides say could include around $500 billion in spending and tax credits, more than paid for with about $1 trillion in revenue and other savings. Schumer has described the talks as productive but acknowledged that some issues remain unresolved.
Energy and environment programs, corporate taxes, IRS budget increases to strengthen tax enforcement and a renewal of soon-to-expire federal subsidies for people buying health insurance under President Barack Obama’s health care law are also under discussion, aides say.
It remains uncertain what will emerge from the talks. The aides described the latest proposals and status of negotiations only on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose the information by name.
The suggestions of progress were emerging seven months after Manchin derailed a roughly $2 trillion, 10-year social and environment bill, dealing a stunning blow to a cornerstone of Biden’s domestic agenda.
The Democratic-run House approved the measure in November, but Manchin abruptly announced he could not support the legislation because of its cost and his worries that it would fuel inflation. Similar provisions lowering pharmaceutical prices and raising taxes on some upper-income people were in that bill.
The West Virginian’s backing remains crucial in the 50-50 Senate. Democrats are using special procedures that would let them pass the pared-down package over expected unanimous GOP opposition with the tie-breaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Democrats are expected to unanimously back the Medicare solvency and prescription drug plans, one Democratic aide said.
“Medicare is a lifeline for millions of American seniors, and Senator Manchin has always supported pathways to ensure it remains solvent. He remains optimistic there is a path to do just that,” his spokesperson Sam Runyon said.
Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough will have to certify that the new bill’s provisions adhere to the chamber’s budget rules. Last year, she ruled that language making it easier for immigrants to remain in the U.S. had to be removed because it violated prohibitions against using the special procedures to enact significant policy changes.
Medicare has 64 million beneficiaries. Its trust fund covering hospital services, called Part A, is financed largely from taxes deducted from peoples’ paychecks.
That trust fund gained two years of solvency, until 2028, in last month’s report by the program’s board of trustees. It attributed the improvement to the economy’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic-spawned recession.
But both Medicare and Social Security face long-range financing problems, and the trustees suggested that lawmakers act “sooner rather than later” to strengthen them. Without congressional action, Medicare’s hospital trust fund would be able to pay only 90% of its costs in 2028 and less thereafter, the trustees said.
The proposal to increase taxes on some wealthier Americans would raise $203 billion over the coming decade, according to information examined by the AP that Congress’ Joint Committee on Taxation provided to Senate Democrats. Federal actuaries told the Democrats that such financing would delay the trust fund’s shortfall until 2031, another document showed.
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | 2022-07-07T12:33:09+00:00 | wtmj.com | https://wtmj.com/national/2022/07/07/dems-want-to-tax-high-earners-to-protect-medicare-solvency-3/ |
Rossen Reports: Vacation rental scam warning
Rossen Reports: Vacation rental scam warning
Hi. Yeah, the better Business Bureau now out with an urgent warning that vacation rental scams are on the rise. So what should you look out for? Let me take you through *** few red flags first. Make sure to ask the property owner questions if they go unanswered. That's *** problem. You should ask for *** copy of their short term rental permit and registration to make sure it's legit. Second. Do *** simple Google search, take the address of the listing type it into Google Maps to make sure the property looks like the photos I like Google Earth because you can get *** different view from above, see everything around it. You can even do *** reverse image search to make sure the pictures are real and not just stock photos. I'm going to put directions how to do that. It's pretty easy on Rosson reports dot com. All right. Finally, if the rental owner is pushing you to communicate or pay off the website, hey, just text me or, or Venmo me. Move on. Going through the booking site is the safest way because it's tracked, secure and protected. Hope it helps back to you
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Rossen Reports: Vacation rental scam warning
As you plan your spring break and summer vacations, the Better Business Bureau is sending out a warning to watch out for potential vacation rental scams. Here are some red flags and tips to remember from experts:Do a search of the property: If you look it up on Google Earth and research the address, but it doesn’t look the same as the listing photos, that’s a red flag. Try a “reverse image” search: This means you’re placing a photo (or a link to the photo) in the search bar instead of text. Google then finds websites featuring your image. So if it’s a fake picture, Google will show you where it came from. Here are the steps to do one: Right-click on the image. There should be a “search image with Google” option. If not, choose “copy image address.” Open “images.google.com” in a web browser and click on the camera icon. Paste the photo’s URL in the text box that says “paste image link.” Click “search” and you’ll be taken to a page that has the results of your photo and more information about it. Ask questions: You want to ask the property owner questions throughout the whole process. If they go unanswered, that’s a problem. You can even ask for a copy of their short-term rental permit and registration to make sure it’s legit.Don’t communicate or pay off the platform: If they’re pushing you to communicate and pay on a different website or app, that’s a red flag. Going through the booking site is the safest way because it’s tracked, secure and protected. Talk on the phone: But you are encouraged to call. Many scammers don’t live locally, so they prefer to communicate via email. Make sure to call and touch base. Reviews: The Better Business Bureau says to look for photos and a variety of reviews. If the property or company doesn't have any online reviews, ask for references and call them. Some experts say, if there are no reviews at all on the booking site, be weary. Too good to be true: Scammers will try to lure you in with deals and deep discounts with lots of amenities. Have your guard up. Urgency: If they’re pushing you to book and pay because “others are interested,” they’re just trying to take advantage.
As you plan your spring break and summer vacations, the Better Business Bureau is sending out a warning to watch out for potential vacation rental scams.
Here are some red flags and tips to remember from experts:
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- Do a search of the property: If you look it up on Google Earth and research the address, but it doesn’t look the same as the listing photos, that’s a red flag.
- Try a “reverse image” search: This means you’re placing a photo (or a link to the photo) in the search bar instead of text. Google then finds websites featuring your image. So if it’s a fake picture, Google will show you where it came from. Here are the steps to do one: Right-click on the image. There should be a “search image with Google” option. If not, choose “copy image address.” Open “images.google.com” in a web browser and click on the camera icon. Paste the photo’s URL in the text box that says “paste image link.” Click “search” and you’ll be taken to a page that has the results of your photo and more information about it.
- Ask questions: You want to ask the property owner questions throughout the whole process. If they go unanswered, that’s a problem. You can even ask for a copy of their short-term rental permit and registration to make sure it’s legit.
- Don’t communicate or pay off the platform: If they’re pushing you to communicate and pay on a different website or app, that’s a red flag. Going through the booking site is the safest way because it’s tracked, secure and protected.
- Talk on the phone: But you are encouraged to call. Many scammers don’t live locally, so they prefer to communicate via email. Make sure to call and touch base.
- Reviews: The Better Business Bureau says to look for photos and a variety of reviews. If the property or company doesn't have any online reviews, ask for references and call them. Some experts say, if there are no reviews at all on the booking site, be weary.
- Too good to be true: Scammers will try to lure you in with deals and deep discounts with lots of amenities. Have your guard up.
- Urgency: If they’re pushing you to book and pay because “others are interested,” they’re just trying to take advantage. | 2023-03-23T16:57:41+00:00 | wmur.com | https://www.wmur.com/article/vacation-rental-scam-warning/43400835 |
ROCKY HILL, Conn. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Saturday evening's drawing of the "Lucky For Life" game were:
02-05-37-39-40, Lucky Ball: 14
(two, five, thirty-seven, thirty-nine, forty; Lucky Ball: fourteen)
ROCKY HILL, Conn. (AP) _ The winning numbers in Saturday evening's drawing of the "Lucky For Life" game were:
02-05-37-39-40, Lucky Ball: 14
(two, five, thirty-seven, thirty-nine, forty; Lucky Ball: fourteen) | 2023-01-01T05:21:35+00:00 | ourmidland.com | https://www.ourmidland.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Lucky-For-Life-game-17688048.php |
(WGHP) — FOX8 is once again recognizing all of our seniors in the Piedmont Triad through our Senior Sendoff.
Joseph Baggerly will be graduating from Greater Visions Academy.
Congratulations, Joseph!
See all of the 2022 graduating seniors highlighted in this year’s FOX8 Senior Sendoff! | 2022-06-07T21:39:03+00:00 | myfox8.com | https://myfox8.com/community/senior-sendoff/fox8-senior-sendoff-joseph-baggerly/ |
Gas prices have again dropped sharply in New Jersey and around the country as demand remains slow and supplies continue to increase.
AAA Mid-Atlantic says the average price of a gallon of regular gas in New Jersey on Friday was $3.49, down 14 cents from last week. Drivers were paying $3.42 a gallon on average a year ago at this time.
The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.31, down 13 cents last week. Drivers were paying $3.33 a gallon on average a year ago at this time.
Analysts say gas prices will likely continue to drop next week, though not as sharply as in recent weeks given the decision by OPEC to continue cutting production. | 2022-12-10T20:46:41+00:00 | local10.com | https://www.local10.com/business/2022/12/10/gas-prices-fall-again-in-nj-nation-as-demand-remains-low/ |
DETROIT (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening's drawing of the Michigan Lottery's "Lotto Double Play" game were:
01-07-23-29-30-46
(one, seven, twenty-three, twenty-nine, thirty, forty-six)
DETROIT (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening's drawing of the Michigan Lottery's "Lotto Double Play" game were:
01-07-23-29-30-46
(one, seven, twenty-three, twenty-nine, thirty, forty-six) | 2022-05-26T01:08:32+00:00 | seattlepi.com | https://www.seattlepi.com/lottery/article/Winning-numbers-drawn-in-Lotto-Double-Play-game-17199367.php |
The law enforcement official who made the decision not to breach the Uvalde elementary school classroom where a gunman was shooting children and teachers was the school district police chief, officials said Friday.
Col. Steven McCraw, Texas Department of Public Safety director, didn't mention the official's name at a news conference Friday, but said he made the "wrong decision" to not engage the gunman sooner.
The Uvalde School District police chief is Pedro "Pete" Arredondo.
"A decision was made that this was a barricaded subject situation," McCraw said of the incident commander's "thought process" at the time.
At the same time, children inside Robb Elementary School classrooms 111 and 112 in Uvalde repeatedly called 911 and pleaded for help, he said. They were in the middle of the deadliest school shooting since the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre.
"From the benefit of hindsight where I'm sitting now, of course it was not the right decision," McCraw said of the supervisor's call not to confront the shooter. "It was the wrong decision. Period. There's no excuse for that."
Pressed by reporters whether Arredondo was on the scene during the shooting, McCraw declined to comment.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday he is demanding a full accounting of what happened during the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, but said he had no say in whether the school district's police chief should be fired.
"As far as his employment status is concerned, that's something that is beyond my control and I have no knowledge about," said Abbott. "Every act of all of those officials will be known and identified and explained to the public."
Arredondo has not spoken about the shooting publicly since two very brief press statements on the day of the tragedy.
CNN attempted to reach Arredondo at his home on Friday, but there was no response.
Arredondo is identified on the Uvalde school district website as the police chief and was introduced as the police chief at news conferences on Tuesday in the hours following the shooting at Robb Elementary.
At the news conferences, Arredondo stated the gunman was deceased, but provided little other information on the massacre, citing an "active investigation" and taking no questions from those gathered.
Arredondo has nearly three decades of law enforcement experience, according to the school district, and was recently elected to a seat on Uvalde's city council.
A board of trustees for the school district approved Arredondo to head the department in 2020. The district's superintendent, Hal Harrell, said in a Facebook post at the time the board was "confident with our selection and impressed with his experience, knowledge, and community involvement."
Arredondo told the Uvalde Leader-News after his appointment he was happy to return to work in his hometown and he wanted to emphasize education and training at the police department. "We can never have enough training," he told the newspaper.
In March, Arredondo posted on Facebook his department was hosting an "Active Shooter Training" at Uvalde High School in an effort to prepare local law enforcement to respond to "any situation that may arise." A flyer for the event he posted stated topics covered would include priorities for school-based law enforcement and how to "Stop the Killing."
Arredondo previously served as a captain at a school district police department in Laredo, Texas, and in multiple roles at the Uvalde Police Department.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. | 2022-05-27T23:32:39+00:00 | albanyherald.com | https://www.albanyherald.com/news/focus-turns-to-uvalde-school-police-chiefs-decision-not-to-send-officers-inside-heres-what/article_bcde971e-4646-5606-a2dd-1b5793c3a9e8.html |
Russia and China showcased their deepening ties Wednesday in a series of meetings closely watched for signs that Beijing might offer stronger support to the Kremlin for its war in Ukraine.
The visit by Wang Yi, the Chinese Communist Party’s most senior foreign policy official, to Moscow comes as the conflict in Ukraine continues to upend the global diplomatic order.
Relations between Russia and the West are at their lowest point since the Cold War, and ties between China and the U.S. are also under serious strain. Moscow suspended its participation in the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty with Washington this week. And the U.S. expressed concern in recent days that China could provide arms and ammunition to Russia.
Speaking at the start of talks with Wang, Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed ties between the two countries and added that the Kremlin expects Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Russia.
The Russian leader noted escalating international tensions, adding that “in this context, cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation on the global arena is particularly important for stabilizing the international situation.”
Wang said that “the Chinese-Russian relations aren’t directed against any third countries and certainly can’t be subject to pressure from any third countries” — but the specter of the war and the ways in which it has galvanized the West and deepened its divide with Russia hung over the meeting.
For instance, Wang emphasized that Moscow and Beijing both support “multipolarity and democratization of international relations” — a reference to their shared goal of countering the perceived U.S. dominance in global affairs.
Earlier Wednesday, Wang held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who noted that “our ties have continued to develop dynamically, and despite high turbulence in the global arena we have shown the readiness to speak in defense of each other’s interests.”
Wang responded in kind, underlining Beijing’s focus on deepening ties with Russia — a relationship it says has “no limits.”
China has pointedly refused to criticize the invasion of Ukraine — echoing Moscow’s claim that the U.S. and NATO are to blame for provoking the Kremlin while blasting the punishing sanctions imposed on Russia. Russia, in turn, has staunchly supported China amid tensions with the U.S. over Taiwan.
The two nations have held a series of military drills that showcased their increasingly close defense ties. Both countries and South Africa are holding naval drills in the Indian Ocean this week.
A Russian frigate, the Admiral Gorshkov, arrived in Cape Town in recent days sporting the letters Z and V on its sides, letters that mark Russian weapons on the front lines in Ukraine and are used as a patriotic symbol in Russia.
The rapprochement has worried the West, leading U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to warn that any Chinese involvement in the Kremlin’s war effort would be a “serious problem.”
Wang’s talks with Lavrov followed his meeting Tuesday with Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful secretary of Russia’s National Security Council, who called for closer cooperation with Beijing to counter what he described as Western efforts to maintain dominance by thwarting an alliance between China and Russia.
While China has emphasized its close ties with Moscow recently, it also has to tread carefully to avoid an escalation of tensions with the West as it looks to stimulate its economy after taking a hit from the COVID-19 epidemic.
“Isolation from the West is not something (Beijing) wants to risk,” Yu Jie, senior research fellow for China in the Asia-Pacific program at Chatham House, said in comments published Wednesday. “President Xi and his colleagues have begun to realize that cooperation with Russia comes with substantial limits to avoid undermining China’s own political priorities and longer-term economic interests.”
Wang’s trip to Moscow took place against a backdrop of grinding battles in Ukraine as neither side appeared to gain momentum, following weeks of virtual stalemate during the winter. Ukraine’s presidential office said Wednesday that at least seven civilians were killed over the previous 24 hours.
Putin on Wednesday hailed the “heroic” Russian troops in a speech at a patriotic concert at a Moscow sports arena, claiming that Moscow’s forces are fighting for its “historic frontiers” to protect its “interests, people, culture, language and territory.”
“When we stand together we have no equals,” he shouted to enthusiastic crowds.
The growing relationship between China and Russia is another example of the ways the war has spread into perilous new terrain.
Putin’s announcement Tuesday that Russia would suspend its participation in the New START Treaty, raising new concerns about the fate of the arms pact, which was already on life support.
The move follows Moscow’s decision last fall to allow the resumption of U.S. inspections of its nuclear sites but also its refusal to hold a scheduled round of consultations under the pact.
The lower house of Russia’s parliament on Wednesday quickly endorsed Putin’s move to suspend the treaty, with officials and lawmakers casting it as an 11th-hour warning to Washington amid the tensions over Ukraine.
Reflecting Beijing’s cautious stance, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the treaty is key to peace and stability and said China hopes “the two sides will properly resolve their differences.”
___
Follow the AP’s coverage of Russia’s war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine | 2023-02-22T14:14:13+00:00 | kfor.com | https://kfor.com/news/international/ap-international/ap-russia-china-show-off-ties-amid-maneuvering-over-ukraine/ |
One of the demands that actors and screenwriters are making in trying to renegotiate their contracts with Hollywood studios is greater residual payments, and several people in the entertainment industry have come forward to share what those residual checks look like.
Mandy Moore, who starred as matriarch Rebecca Pearson in NBC's This Is Us, said she received streaming residual checks for a penny once and 81 cents another time.
"So you have to, like, let them add up for a while before you go deposit them at the bank," she said in an interview while on the picket line.
Residuals are payments made over the long term to actors and other theatrical workers when a TV show or movie is rerun or aired after its original release.
Kamil McFadden, who starred on three seasons of Disney's K.C. Undercover, tweeted a screen recording of his residuals, several of which had negative dollar amounts. He said his net income from the list was $2.77.
Wanna see something crazy? Y’all ever seen negative amounts on your residuals? The full video is almost two minutes long and I’m only netting $2.77. The math ain’t mathing #postyourpay #SAGAFTRA #SAGAFTRAstrong #wgastrike #amptp https://t.co/BpJTHiVEFs pic.twitter.com/QHNusIpXwZ
— Kamil McFadden™ (@Kamil_McFadden) July 13, 2023
In an Instagram video, William Stanford Davis, who plays Mr. Johnson on the ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary, showed a residual check for 5 cents.
"That's what they think of us as actors," he said. "This is why we're on strike."
Jana Schmieding, who played Bev on FX's Reservation Dogs, said she gets a 3-cent residual every quarter for the show being streamed on Hulu.
To fans of my character Bev on Reservation Dogs, here’s a peek behind the IHS counter at what part of my residuals looks like for acting on a show that I love. I pull in $.03 each quarter for UNLIMITED world wide streams on fx/hulu/DISNEY.
— jana (@janaunplgd) July 17, 2023
& Iger is yachting. #SAGAFTRAstrike pic.twitter.com/u6JjubmznZ
"Listen, I'm an actor. I don't want a yacht. But I'd love to be able to save for retirement," she tweeted.
The Writers Guild of America is currently on the 13th week of its strike, while actors with the union SAG-AFTRA are on their second week. Both are striking against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). (Note: Many NPR employees are members of SAG-AFTRA, though journalists work under a different contract than the Hollywood actors.)
Writers and actors are demanding better wages, fair use of artificial intelligence and better contributions to health care and retirement.
The AMPTP did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but in a document titled "What SAG-AFTRA Failed to Mention," issued last week, it said that in its negotiations with SAG-AFTRA, it offered a more than $1 billion increase in wages, residuals and pension and health care contributions over a three-year period.
In the document, the AMPTP says it offered a 22% increase in residuals for high-budget SVOD (subscription video on demand) programs from Hulu, Disney+, Netflix and Amazon Prime. It said it also presented a 76% increase in foreign residuals.
SAG-AFTRA also asked for revenue sharing, which means actors would get a fixed residual and also a separate residual tied to the amount of money a show brought in once it hit streaming platforms.
The AMPTP rejected that proposal and asked SAG-AFTRA to remove it from negotiations, calling it "completely illogical," as the companies that produce a program are not entitled to any revenue from streaming and receive only a licensing fee, it said.
"The Union is proposing that performers share in the rewards of a successful show, without bearing any of the risk. ... The Union proposes to 'share' in success, but not in failure," it said. "That is not sharing."
SAG-AFTRA said it additionally asked for an 11% increase in general wages in the first year of the new contract and a 4% increase in each of the second and third years but was met with a proposal of 5% in the first year, 4% in the second year and 3.5% in the third.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. | 2023-07-27T15:39:54+00:00 | kanw.com | https://www.kanw.com/npr-news/npr-news/2023-07-27/actors-take-to-the-internet-to-show-their-residual-checks-with-some-in-the-negative |
A hit is a hit, even if it's only spring training. For Fernando Tatis Jr., it's been a long time coming.
The San Diego Padres star had been 0 for 16 this spring before hitting a smash shot off the glove of Chicago White Sox shortstop Erik Gonzalez for a single in the first inning Saturday at Peoria, Arizona. The hit came against former teammate Mike Clevinger. Tatis later added a two-run double.
They were the first hits in 526 days for Tatis, who missed all of last season. He was on the cusp of returning from surgery on his left wrist when he was suspended for 80 games by major league baseball after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
“He hasn't played in a while. He’s going to hit,” manager Bob Melvin said earlier in the week when asked about Tatis' slump. "I'm sure he's a little frustrated right now, and he's doing a lot of work, too. The last thing I’m worried about is Fernando Tatis hitting or not.”
Tatis isn't eligible to return to the active roster until April 20. When he comes back, he'll be in right field. The Padres signed shortstop Xander Bogaerts to a $280 million, 11-year contract in December.
Until Saturday, Tatis' last hit was on Oct. 2, 2021, against the San Francisco Giants.
WALKER HURT
St. Louis Cardinals rookie outfielder Jordan Walker, one of the sensations of spring training, left the game against the Houston Astros with a strained right shoulder suffered on a slide at second base in the first inning.
But manager Oliver Marmol said he was not “overly concerned. Day to day.”
Marmol said he hadn’t intended to play Walker on Sunday anyway and that Monday is a scheduled off day for the team. Walker will be re-evaluated Sunday but it seems he will be able to play later in the week.
Before Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Houston, the 6-foot-6, 250-pound Walker led the Grapefruit League in hits (14), batting average (.438), slugging percentage, OPS, total bases and extra-base hits.
“There was no reason for him to keep going and get it more fatigued,” said Marmol. “If it was up to him, he’d keep going but there was no reason to continue.”
SONG SHUT DOWN
The Philadelphia Phillies are shutting down 25-year-old right-hander Noah Song for a few days because of back tightness. He had an MRI on Friday.
“It’s just something that happens, I guess,” Song told reporters. “It kind of came on gradually, I guess, a couple days ago. It’s just something that they wanted to be very cautious of and aware of. We’re just going to monitor it as time goes on.”
The Phillies selected song in the Rule 5 Draft and he must spend at least 90 days on the active roster to stay with the organization beyond this season. Song appears headed to the injured list because the Phillies said he won't be ready to pitch by opening day.
Song had been a flight officer training on a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft at Naval Air Station Jacksonville in northeast Florida before the Navy granted a transfer from active duty to reserves. That decision allowed him the chance to try and regain the skills that were impressive during his only pro season in 2019 when he made seven starts for Boston’s Class A Lowell affiliate, striking out 19 in 17 innings with a 1.06 ERA. With a fastball in the upper 90s mph, he went 11-1 with a 1.44 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 94 innings during his senior year at Navy.
RUIZ DEAL
Catcher Keibert Ruiz agreed to an eight-year contract with the Washington Nationals, reportedly for $50 million. The contract begins this year and runs through the 2030 season, with club options for the 2031 and 2032 seasons.
Ruiz was part of the trade deadline deal in 2021 that sent Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers. He is entering his fourth big league season.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2023-03-12T00:10:52+00:00 | clickorlando.com | https://www.clickorlando.com/sports/2023/03/11/fernando-tatis-jr-gets-1st-hits-for-padres-since-2021/ |
Russia is suspending its participation in an international deal that had allowed the export of grain from Ukrainian Black Sea ports it has been blockading.
That has many worried about global food security. The Kremlin says the accord, brokered last year by Turkey, no longer met its conditions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called Russia’s decision “blackmail,” adding that “no one has the right to destroy the food security of any nation.”
Overnight, Ukrainian forces shot down scores of exploding drones and six cruise missiles during a pre-dawn Russian attack on the port of Odesa.
This latest attack came days after President Biden claimed Russia’s President Putin had “already lost the war.”
We speak to the U.S. ambassador to NATO, Julianne Smith.
Copyright 2023 WAMU 88.5 | 2023-07-18T19:08:21+00:00 | kgou.org | https://www.kgou.org/2023-07-18/americas-ambassador-to-nato-on-putin-dues-and-grain-deals |
Saint Louis Billikens (7-2) at Iona Gaels (4-2, 2-0 MAAC)
The Billikens are 0-1 on the road. Saint Louis ranks fourth in the A-10 with 9.9 offensive rebounds per game led by Francis Okoro averaging 3.1.
TOP PERFORMERS: Quinn Slazinski averages 2.5 made 3-pointers per game for the Gaels, scoring 18.0 points while shooting 35.7% from beyond the arc. Daniss Jenkins is shooting 50.5% and averaging 18.2 points for Iona.
Gibson Jimerson is shooting 43.8% from beyond the arc with 3.1 made 3-pointers per game for the Billikens, while averaging 14 points. Javon Pickett is averaging 12.7 points and 7.2 rebounds for Saint Louis.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. | 2022-12-05T08:22:26+00:00 | washingtonpost.com | https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/saint-louis-hosts-clayton-and-iona/2022/12/05/35bc2398-7471-11ed-a199-927b334b939f_story.html |
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The European Union on Thursday urged Algeria to reverse its decision a day after the gas-rich north African country ordered the suspension of a two-decade-old friendship treaty with Spain.
The move was the latest by Algeria to ratchet up pressure on Madrid after Spain’s government changed is long-standing policy regarding the contested territory of Western Sahara, whose independence movement from Morocco is supported by rival Algeria.
Algeria recalled its ambassador to Spain in March after Madrid came out in support of Morocco’s pretensions to keep Western Sahara under its rule.
Spain was the former colonial power in Western Sahara until it was annexed by Morocco in 1975. Since then, Algeria and neighboring Morocco have had tense ties over the fate of the Western Sahara, at one point fighting a desert war.
Algeria’s now openly hostile turn against a member of the 27-country EU bloc comes while Spain and the rest of the continent is hustling to find alternatives to Russian energy imports in retaliation to its invasion of Ukraine.
European Commission spokeswoman Nabila Massrali told reporters Thursday that the decision is “deeply worrying, and we therefore call on the Algerian authorities to review their decision.
“Algeria is an important European Union partner in the Mediterranean (region), and a key actor for regional stability,” Massrali said. “We are evaluating the impact of the decision, and solutions must be found through dialogue and diplomatic means.
“We hope that Algeria will reverse its decision and work with Spain to overcome the current disagreement.”
The true impact of the diplomatic move is yet to be seen, although Algeria has reportedly ordered its national bank to stop facilitating payments with Spain, which could disrupt trade.
The Spanish government quickly moved to assuage fears that Algeria’s important supply of natural gas that it pumps and ships across the Mediterranean could be at risk.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Albares said that so far no Spanish companies working with Algeria have reported any “inconveniences.”
And, he added, “what the gas companies are telling us is that the decision has not caused any difficulties.”
Algeria’s Sonatrach was Spain’s leading supplier of natural gas last year with more than 40% of its imports. Coinciding with the fraying of relations with Algeria, Spain has since pivoted to the United States, which has become its leading supplier of gas in recent months ahead of Algeria.
Algeria, whose fragile economy depends heavily on its energy exports, signed a new deal with Italy in April to increase the gas flow through the pipeline connecting the two countries.
Spain imports large amounts of fertilizers in addition to gas from Algeria, while Spanish companies send primarily soy oil and meat products the other way.
While thousands of migrants from Africa leave from the coasts of Morocco for Spain each year, Algeria also plays an important role in controlling unauthorized migration from its coasts.
Spain, Morocco and Algeria have been caught in a three-way diplomatic tug-of-war over Western Sahara for the past year.
Trouble started when Spain allowed the leader of Western Sahara’s separatist movement enter Spain to receive treatment for COVID-19 in May 2020. Morocco responded by dropping its border controls around the Spain’s north Africa enclave of Ceuta, which was quickly overwhelmed by thousands of migrants including many young Moroccans.
Relations only normalized between Madrid and Rabat after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez took the unpopular decision at home to back Morocco’s plan to keep Western Sahara under its control as an autonomous area.
But that, in turn, has pushed Algiers away.
The crisis with Algeria comes with Sánchez’s government facing intense criticism at home for its siding with Morocco and with Spain’s economy struggling with high energy prices driven by global inflation.
___
Lorne Cook in Brussels, and Ciarán Giles in Madrid, contributed to this report. | 2022-06-09T15:16:09+00:00 | seattletimes.com | https://www.seattletimes.com/business/eu-urges-algeria-to-restore-friendship-treaty-with-spain/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_business |
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — One day in the 1970s, Paul Fleisher and his wife were walking through a department store parking lot when they noticed a group of people looking at them. Fleisher, who is white, and his wife, who is Black, were used to “the look.” But this time it was more intense.
“There was this white family who was just staring at us, just staring holes in us,” Fleisher recalled.
That fraught moment occurred even though any legal uncertainty about the validity of interracial marriage had ended a decade earlier — in 1967, when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down state laws banning marriages between people of different races.
In the more than half-century since, interracial marriage has become more common and far more accepted. So Fleisher was surprised that Congress felt the need to include an additional protection in the Respect for Marriage Act, which goes to the House for a final vote expected this week. It would ensure that not only same-sex marriages, but also interracial marriages, are enshrined in federal law.
The 74-year-old Fleisher, a retired teacher and children’s book author, attended segregated public schools in the 1950s in the then-Jim Crow South, and later saw what he called “token desegregation” in high school, when four Black students were in his senior class of about 400 students.
He and his wife, Debra Sims Fleisher, 73, live outside Richmond, about 50 miles from Caroline County, where Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a white man, were arrested and charged in 1958 with marrying out of state and returning to Virginia, where interracial marriage was illegal. Their challenge to the law led to Loving v. Virginia, the landmark ruling that ended bans against interracial marriages.
The Respect for Marriage Act, which passed the Senate l ast week, has been picking up steam since June, when the Supreme Court overturned the federal right to an abortion. The ruling included a concurring opinion from Justice Clarence Thomas that suggested the high court should review other precedent-setting rulings, including the 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage.
While much of the attention has been focused on protections for same-sex marriages, interracial couples say they are glad Congress also included protections for their marriages, even though their right to marry was well-established decades ago.
“It’s a little unnerving that these things where we made such obvious progress are now being challenged or that we feel we have to really beef up the bulwark to keep them in place,” said Ana Edwards, a historian who lives in Richmond.
Edwards, 62, who is Black, and her husband, Phil Wilayto, 73, who is white, have been married since 2006. Both have been community activists for years and said they didn’t consider interracial marriage a potentially vulnerable institution until the Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion.
“That reminds all of us that whatever rights we have in this society are conditional — they can be taken away,” said Wilayto. ”The fact that Congress had to take up this issue in 2022 should be a stark reminder of that fact for us.”
For younger interracial couples, the thought that their right to marry could ever be threatened is a foreign concept.
“We never in our wildest dreams thought we would need to be protected as an interracial couple,” said Derek Mize, a 42-year-old white attorney who lives in an Atlanta suburb with his husband, Jonathan Gregg, 41, who is Black, and their two children.
As a same-sex couple, they were at the forefront of the long struggle for acceptance and felt the elation that followed the 2015 Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage across the country.
Still, they see the need for new protections for interracial marriages as well.
“We’re really relieved that there is this law,” Mize said. “Protections through the courts and protections through the legislation certainly helps us sleep better at night.”
Mize said he remembers studying Loving v. Virginia in law school and thought then that it was “ridiculous” that there had to be litigation over marriages between people of different races. But after he read the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, he said: “Who knows where it will stop?”
Gregg, a management consultant, said he sees the Respect for Marriage Act as “an added level of safety” for same-sex and interracial marriages — a federal law and Supreme Court rulings supporting their right to marry.
“You’ve got two ways to be OK,” he said. “They have to take down both of them in order for your marriage to fall apart.”
Angelo Villagomez, a 44-year-old senior fellow at the think tank Center for American Progress, said it was “unthinkable” that his marriage could become illegal. Villagomez, who is of mixed white and Indigenous Mariana Islands descent, and his wife, Eden Villagomez, 38, who is Filipina, live in Washington, D.C.
But after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, “it feels like some of those things that have just been taken for granted … are under threat,” said Villagomez, whose parents, also a mixed-race couple, were married in the 1970s, not long after the Loving decision.
Villagomez worries about what could come next. “If we don’t put a stop to some of this backsliding, this country is gonna go to a very dark place,” he said.
“I’m worried about what else is on the chopping block.”
___
Associated Press reporter Claire Savage contributed to this report from Chicago.
___
Savage is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. | 2022-12-08T14:46:51+00:00 | valleycentral.com | https://www.valleycentral.com/green-living/top-story/ap-top-headlines/ap-interracial-marriages-to-get-added-protection-under-new-law/ |
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion that was guaranteed nearly 50 years ago by the decision in
Roe v. Wade.
The ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization was released Friday morning. The justices, voting 6-3 along ideological lines, sided with the Mississippi abortion law that was in question.
Reactions were mixed across the country, with anti-abortion-rights supporters celebrating what they view as a victory, and abortion-rights activists expressing their frustration over the decision. Here are some of the scenes from D.C., and across the country.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
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Estefania Mitre
Estefania Mitre (she/her/ella) is a production assistant for social media who works with visual elements to amplify stories across platforms. She has experience reporting on culture, social justice and music. | 2022-06-26T01:25:49+00:00 | klcc.org | https://www.klcc.org/npr-news/npr-news/2022-06-24/photos-see-reactions-to-the-roe-v-wade-decision-across-the-u-s |
PARIS (AP) — Amelie Mauresmo, a former No. 1 player who is in her first year as the French Open’s first female tournament director, said Wednesday that nine of the 10 night sessions at Roland Garros involved men’s matches because women’s tennis currently has less “appeal.”
Speaking at the traditional second-week news conference to recap the clay-court Grand Slam tournament, Mauresmo said she tried on a daily basis to find a women’s pairing that had the star power or a matchup worthy of being highlighted in the separate session that began at 8:45 p.m. local time in Court Philippe Chatrier.
“I admit it was tough,” said Mauresmo, a 42-year-old from France.
The current No. 1-ranked woman, Iga Swiatek, said after her quarterfinal victory in Paris on Wednesday that she found Mauresmo’s comments “a little bit disappointing and surprising.”
“It’s kind of the personal opinion of every person if they like men’s tennis or women’s tennis more or if they like them equally, but I think women’s tennis has a lot of advantages,” said Swiatek, the 2020 French Open champion, who has won 33 matches in a row. “And some may say that it’s unpredictable and girls are not consistent. But on the other hand, it may also be something that is really appealing and it may really attract more people.”
The woman Swiatek beat on Wednesday, 11th-seeded Jessica Pegula, considered Mauresmo’s stance “not something you want to hear,” and noted that the best way to grow interest in any sport is “to have chances” to show how good the product is.
“Of course, it’s always a little disappointing to hear that’s her reasoning, being a female … Slam champion,” said Pegula, a New Yorker whose parents own the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. “But hopefully we can change that.”
She also offered a defense of her sport, which is currently missing the star power of 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, who has not competed since getting injured at Wimbledon nearly a year ago.
“To me, I feel like so many people love watching women’s tennis because we don’t have huge serves. We’re not acing. There’s not a lot of super, super quick points,” Pegula said. “There’s more rallies. There’s more drama.”
This year’s French Open began on May 22 and will end on Sunday. The last of the 10 night sessions was Wednesday’s men’s quarterfinal between Casper Ruud and Holger Rune, and the only women’s match that got the prime-time treatment — part of a deal with a streaming service — was France’s Alizé Cornet’s victory over Jelena Ostapenko in the second round.
Asked about that decision-making process, Mauresmo said in French that having just one match in each night session made it “more difficult to have” that be a women’s match. Night sessions at the U.S. Open, for example, usually include one women’s match and one men’s match.
“In this era that we are in right now, I don’t feel — and as a woman, former women’s player, I don’t feel bad or unfair saying that, right now — you have more … appeal,” Mauresmo said. “That’s the general (reason) for the men’s matches.”
She added: “My goal was, when I was doing the schedule every day, to try and see, from the first round, when the draw came out … ‘what match in the woman’s draw can I put there?’ honestly.”
Mauresmo first topped the WTA rankings in 2004 and returned to that spot after winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2006.
Her last major tournament was the 2009 U.S. Open. After retiring as a player, Mauresmo moved into coaching and worked with Andy Murray, Lucas Pouille and Marion Bartoli, among others, and was France’s captain for the team competition now called the Billie Jean King Cup.
Mauresmo’s session with reporters was held the morning after 13-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal’s 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4) quarterfinal victory over defending champion Novak Djokovic in Tuesday’s night session. The match lasted 4 hours, 12 minutes and finished after 1 a.m., leaving some of the 15,000 or so spectators unable to use public transportation to get home.
“That’s actually a key issue that needs to be settled, and that will be one of our priorities in the future,” Mauresmo said. “We haven’t planned anything yet, but obviously we need to organize ourselves differently with the Department of Transport of Paris with bus systems, with the underground system. If we continue with these night sessions in this direction, people need to leave the stadium late enough and make sure that they have a way to come back home, as they should.”
Nadal, through the media, and his manager, Carlos Costa, directly with Mauresmo, made clear the owner of 21 Grand Slam titles preferred not to play at night, because of the way the cooler temperatures affect his shots. It dropped below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 Celsius) during his quarterfinal.
Asked about that, Mauresmo deflected the question and replied: “Rafa has shown us how big a champion he is, far and beyond all these considerations.”
Mauresmo said a full review of the entire tournament will be conducted after it ends, including considering changes to the night sessions and other scheduling matters.
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More AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | 2022-06-02T11:04:57+00:00 | pahomepage.com | https://www.pahomepage.com/sports/amelie-mauresmo-womens-tennis-has-less-appeal-than-mens/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart and Target plan to begin offering deals and price matching offers earlier this year to keep up with Americans pressed by soaring inflation and looking for ways to ease the potential sting of holiday shopping.
Inflation that is hovering near four-decade highs, experts believe, could push families to get an earlier start on shopping with hopes of avoiding even higher prices later.
The holiday sales strategies, announced on Thursday, come amid what is expected to be slower holiday sales growth compared with a year ago. AlixPartners, the global consulting firm, forecasts that holiday sales will be up anywhere from 4% to 7%, far below last year’s growth of 16%. The current inflation rate of 8.3% means retailers would see a decrease in real sales.
Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, is also expanding the window for returns by more than a month. Gift returns will now be accepted between Oct. 1 and Jan. 31, compared with last year’s return window of Nov. 1 to Jan. 24, the company said.
Walmart, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, is offering a wider assortment of items this year with more new brands and more Walmart exclusives than a year ago, according to Tom Ward, the company’s chief e-commerce officer. The company is deepening discounts on such items as toys, home goods, electronics and beauty. It said that more than half the toys on Walmart’s list of expected hot holiday toys are under $50 – with many under $25 — and nearly all of the toys are available to shop now or through pre-order on walmart.com.
Target, based in Minneapolis, said will begin offering holiday deals between Oct. 6 and Oct. 8, a few days earlier than a year ago and it will begin price matching then, also a couple days early.
Target has one of the most generous price-matching offers in retail, countering offers from more than two dozen other stores. That also applies to purchases at Target.com.
Target plans to hire up to 100,000 seasonal employees in stores and distribution centers this holiday season, in line with a year ago.
Walmart is taking a more cautious hiring approach this year, saying this week that it would hire 40,000 U.S. workers for the holidays, a majority of them seasonal workers.
Last year, Walmart said it would hire roughly 150,000 new U.S. store workers, most of them permanent, full-time positions, on top of 20,000 permanent distribution and warehouse workers as the pandemic disrupted supply chains. | 2022-09-22T13:48:39+00:00 | wboy.com | https://www.wboy.com/news/national/walmart-target-starting-holiday-deals-even-earlier-this-year-heres-why/ |
WASHINGTON — Washington sought to portray a united front against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Monday as President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan measure to reboot the World War II-era “lend-lease” program that helped defeat Nazi Germany to bolster Kyiv and Eastern European allies.
The new legislation is largely symbolic, but comes as Congress is poised to unleash more resources of $33 billion or more to fight the war. It all serves as a rejoinder to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has seized on V-E day, the anniversary of Germany’s unconditional surrender and Russia’s biggest patriotic holiday, to rally his people behind the invasion.
Before signing the bill, Biden said that “Putin’s war” was “once more bringing wanton destruction of Europe,” drawing reference to the significance of the day.
Flanked by two Democratic lawmakers and one Republican, Biden signed the bill, which had sailed through the Senate last month with unanimous agreement, not even the need for a formal roll call vote. It passed overwhelmingly in the House, drawing opposition from just 10 Republicans.
“It really matters,” Biden said of the bipartisan support for Ukraine. “It matters.”
Despite their differences over Biden’s approach and perceived missteps in confronting Russia, when it comes to Ukraine the members of the House and Senate have held together in a rare bipartisan fashion. Other measures, including calls to investigate Putin for war crimes, have also gained widespread support.
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KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR:
— No end in sight for Ukraine war as Putin hails Victory Day
— Russian ambassador to Poland hit with red paint
— Russia marks WWII victory overshadowed by Ukraine
— More than 60 feared dead in bombing of Ukrainian school
Follow all AP stories on Russia's war on Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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OTHER DEVELOPMENTS:
WASHINGTON — Lithuania’s top diplomat said Monday that removing Russian President Vladimir Putin from power is the only way to protect the West and its allies from future threats from Moscow, urging an even tougher stance than the U.S. and many NATO allies have been willing to pursue since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In an interview with The Associated Press in Washington, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said Putin's annual Victory Day speech was "underwhelming" and that the "gloomy faces" of generals and others were signs of failing in the Ukraine war. Yet, he said a wounded Putin may be even more dangerous and that the only way to remove the threat is to remove him.
“From our standpoint, up until the point the current regime is not in power, the countries surrounding it will be, to some extent, in danger. Not just Putin but the whole regime because, you know, one might change Putin and might change his inner circle but another Putin might rise into his place,” Landsbergis said.
“And so as long as a regime that intends to wage wars outside Russian territory is in place, the countries surrounding it are in danger,” he said. “And, if one thing was proven to those who doubted it after 2008 in Georgia in 2014 when the first war in Ukraine started, it is that Russia is an aggressive country. That’s very clear.”
Lithuania is one of the three Baltic states that among NATO allies are particularly concerned about possible Russian designs on forcefully returning them to Moscow’s rule. Lithuanian officials, including Landsbergis have been especially outspoken about their fears but his overt calls for regime change go beyond what most NATO allies have been willing to express.
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BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — The first telephone call Jill Biden made from her black SUV after an unannounced meeting with her Ukrainian counterpart inside the embattled country was to her husband, President Joe Biden.
Biden and Olena Zelenska, who had not been seen in public since President Vladimir Putin sent Russia’s military into her country nearly 11 weeks ago, had just spent about two hours together at a school in Uzhhorod in western Ukraine.
With her visit to the Ukraine war zone, the U.S. first lady was able to act as a second pair of eyes and ears for the president, who so far has been unable to visit the country himself.
“Sometimes the first lady is able to do things and get into places where the president can’t,” said Myra Gutin, author of “The President’s Partner: The First Lady in the Twentieth Century.”
Jill Biden wrapped up her four-day trip to Eastern Europe on Monday after meeting in Bratislava with Zuzana Caputova, Slovakia’s first female president. Her trip over the border on Sunday to meet with Zelenska and refugees from elsewhere in Ukraine was a highpoint of the visit.
Seated across from Caputova, Jill Biden said she told her husband in their phone call “just how much I saw the need to support the people of Ukraine” and about “the horrors and the brutality that the people I had met had experienced.”
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BERLIN — The leaders of Germany and France welcomed the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin didn’t announce any steps to expand the war in Ukraine, including to other countries, in his speech marking the end of World War II.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters in Berlin that it important there had been no escalation, “at least as far as the rhetoric is concerned” in Putin’s Victory Day speech. “What actually happens in Ukraine is something we’ll see in the next days and weeks.”
His comments were echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who added that the goal of diplomatic efforts remains a cease-fire in Ukraine.
“In effect, today was marked by no verbal escalation nor a geographic escalation nor an escalation in the use of arms” he said. “Is this sufficient for us? No.”
“We will remain concentrated on our only goal, do all to get a cease-fire and help Ukraine to negotiate under the terms it decides for itself, because we are on the side of sovereignty and Ukrainian territorial integrity,” Macron said. “No more, no less.”
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BUCHAREST, Romania — U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said during an official visit to non-NATO member Moldova on Monday that the consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine escalating are “too frightening to contemplate.”
Guterres, who arrived in Moldova’s capital Chisinau on Monday, said in a joint press conference with Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita, that the impact of Russia’s war in neighboring Ukraine “is profound and far-reaching.”
The U.N. chief’s visit to Moldova, one of Europe’s poorest countries, which has a population of about 2.6 million people, follows a series of unsettling incidents that have rocked Moldova’s pro-Russia breakaway region of Transnistria, which has put officials in Chisinau on high alert.
In late April, three men launched grenades at the region’s state security office, and two large broadcast antennas were downed a day later. On Friday, Police in Transnistria said explosive devices were dropped from a drone leaving 1-meter-deep craters near a village.
“I am deeply concerned about the continuation and possible spread of the war Russia is waging in Ukraine,” Guterres said, adding that Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity “must not be threatened or undermined.”
Transnistria, a small strip of land with a population of about 470,000, has been under the control of separatist authorities since a 1992 war with Moldova. Russia bases about 1,500 troops in the breakaway region, ostensibly as peacekeepers. No casualties were reported in the incidents.
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WASHINGTON — The United States is suspending 25% import taxes on Ukraine’s steel in a show of support for the country’s beleaguered economy during the Russian invasion.
The Commerce Department said Monday that it would withdraw the tariffs for a year. Ukraine accounts for only about 1% of U.S. steel exports.
Some of the country’s largest steel communities have been among those hardest hit during the war, including the Mariupol mill that’s the only part of the strategically important port city not under Russian control.
“We can’t just admire the fortitude and spirit of the Ukrainian people — we need to have their backs and support one of the most important industries to Ukraine’s economic well-being,’’ Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo said. “For steel mills to continue as an economic lifeline for the people of Ukraine, they must be able to export their steel.’’
The steel levies were imposed in 2018 by the Trump administration, which deployed a little-used provision in U.S. trade law to call foreign steel a threat to American national security. The move outraged U.S. allies, and critics said they did little address the real cause of stress for U.S. steel producers: massive overproduction by the Chinese, whose steel shipments to the U.S. are already limited by other trade barriers.
The Biden administration has removed most of the tariffs on steel from the European Union, the United Kingdom and Japan, allowing their metals to come in duty-free up to a quota. No such quota applies to the Ukrainian imports in the move announced Monday.
___
WARSAW, Poland — Polish officials say the country is ready to increase its energy assistance to neighboring Ukraine and provide steady deliveries.
Poland’s government ministers made the declaration Monday during a Polish-Ukrainian Energy Forum attended also by other countries and by the International Energy Agency. Climate and Environment minister, Anna Moskwa, said a round-the clock effort is being set in motion to “ensure energy security to Ukraine.”
Poland has been supplying Ukraine with some energy and fuels ever since Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion. The level of the support is to be increased.
Ukraine’s first deputy minister for the economy, Yulia Sviridenko, said the country urgently needs diesel fuel and gasoline because Russia’s invading troops are destroying its fuels infrastructure, including a refinery.
Poland is in the process of cutting its dependence on Russian energy sources and increasing deliveries from other countries.
___
BRUSSELS — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is traveling to Hungary in a bid to secure unanimity on the EU’s executive arm’s proposal to ban oil imports from Russia.
A spokesman for the European Commission said von der Leyen will meet with Hungary Prime minister Viktor Orban on Monday to discuss “issues related to European security of energy supply.”
Hungary has blocked progress in discussions to adopt the sixth EU package of sanctions targeting Russia for its war in Ukraine, and ambassadors from the 27 EU countries have so far failed to agree on the details of the new round of measures.
Von der Leyen has proposed having EU member nations phase out imports of crude oil within six months and refined products by the end of the year.
Hungary says it will not vote for the proposed sanctions, saying it would have the effect of an “atomic bomb” on its economy and would destroy its “stable energy supply.”
___
ODESA, Ukraine — The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, has lamented that “silos full” of food for export is blocked in the Black Sea port of Odesa, which he visited on Monday.
The Ukrainian city has been the target of Russian missile attacks over recent days.
In a tweet, Michel said he was with Ukraine’s prime minister examining the war’s effect on the port.
“I saw silos full of grain, wheat and corn ready for export,” Michel wrote. “This badly needed food is stranded because of the Russian war and blockade of Black sea ports. Causing dramatic consequences for vulnerable countries. We need a global response.”
Ukraine is a global grain exporter, and U.N. officials have warned that failure for those products to ship will hurt food security in importing countries, especially poorer ones in Africa and elsewhere.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a statement said he spoke with Michel during the Odesa visit. “It is important to prevent a food crisis in the world caused by Russia’s aggressive actions,” Zelenskyy said. “Immediate measures must be taken to unlock Ukrainian ports for wheat exports.”
___
ROME — The head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the Moscow patriarch has made a personal and faith-based appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin for safe passage to Ukrainian soldiers defending the besieged port city of Mariupol.
Metropolitan Onufry recalled in an open letter Monday that Putin’s own family survived the siege of Leningrad in the 1940s. He said Putin’s relatives experienced “what it is like to live in isolation from the great land, under constant bombardment, without food, water, medicine, when death can come at any moment from the impact of a heavy weapon, hunger or lack of medical care.”
He said the civilians and soldiers of Mariupol are in the same situation today, a reference to the Ukrainian troops still defending the Azovstal steel mill. He wrote: “We hope that you will Christianly agree to the extraction procedure for the Ukrainian garrison in Mariupol, and give the opportunity to surrounded civilians, police, border guards and the military to enter the territory controlled by Ukraine or the territory of third countries.”
Onufry’s church enjoys broad autonomy but is loyal to the Russian Orthodox Church and its patriarch, Kirill. It is separate from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which split into an independent church in 2019.
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ROME — The Ukrainian embassy in Rome has been wrapped in a ribbon of European Union flags as a sign of EU solidarity with Ukraine following Russia’s invasion.
European ambassadors posed with the Ukrainian ambassador in a ceremony Monday to mark Europe Day, which commemorates a key date in the founding of the EU.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Italy, Yaroslav Melnyk, urged the bloc to remain united for the sake of Ukraine and Europe.
The French ambassador in Rome, Christian Masset, called for a cease-fire, the withdrawal of Russian forces and EU unity to help the Ukrainian people.
The flag initiative was promoted by the pro-European association, Europa Now.
___
BERLIN — The Russian ambassador in Berlin used a wreath-laying ceremony commemorating the end of World War II to repeat Moscow’s claims that it is fighting against “Nazism” in Ukraine.
Sergey Nechaev told reporters Monday that Ukraine “will be de-nazified for sure.”
“It will succeed,” he said. “We need a peace without Nazism, in Ukraine and in Europe.”
The diplomat also cited a need for “good cooperation, of course, but at eye level, without ultimatums and without threats and without sanctions.”
The occasion was the 77th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat, traditionally celebrated by Russia on May 9.
A small group of people waved Russian and Soviet flags, despite a ban on doing so by Berlin police, imposed to prevent violence between pro-Russia and pro-Ukraine protesters.
___
WARSAW, Poland — Protesters threw what appeared to be red paint, to symbolize blood, at the Russian ambassador as he arrived at a cemetery in Warsaw to pay respects to Red Army soldiers who died during World War II.
Ambassador Ambassador Sergey Andreev came to the Soviet soldiers cemetery to lay flowers. A group of activists opposed to Russia’s war in Ukraine were waiting for him.
The protesters carried Ukrainian flags, while some were dressed in white sheets smeared with a red color, symbolizing the Ukrainian victims of Russia’s war. Other men in the diplomat’s entourage were also seen splattered with what appeared to be red paint.
__
BRUSSELS — The European Commission will aim to deliver a first opinion in June on Ukraine’s bid to become a member of the European Union.
The 27 EU nations have been fully united in backing Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s invasion, adopting unprecedented economic sanctions against Moscow since the start of the war in February. But leaders are divided on how fast Brussels could move to accept Ukraine as a member.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in a message on Twitter that she discussed Monday with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy “EU support and Ukraine’s European pathway. Looking forward to receiving the answers to the EU membership questionnaire.”
For now, Ukraine has an “Association Agreement” with the EU, which includes a far-reaching free trade pact and helps to modernize Ukraine’s economy.
The Ukrainian fast-track bid could take years, with unanimity among current members required to include a new member.
___
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy released a video address to the war-ravaged nation on Monday, marking the defeat of the Nazi Germany in the World War II, and promising that Ukraine will soon have “two Victory Days.”
“We will never forget what our ancestors did in World War II. Where more than 8 million Ukrainians died. And every fifth Ukrainian didn’t return home. In total, the war claimed at least 50 million lives,” Zelenskyy said. “We don’t say ‘we can repeat.’”
Zelenskyy stressed that “soon there will be two Victory Days in Ukraine.” “And someone will not have even one left. We won then, we will win now, too,” he said, in reference to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
___
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought to cast Moscow’s military action in Ukraine as a forced response to Western policies.
Speaking Monday at a military parade marking the World War II victory over the Nazis, Putin drew parallels between the Red Army’s fighting against the Nazi troops and the Russian forces’ action in Ukraine.
He said the campaign in Ukraine was a timely and necessary move to ward off what he described as “an absolutely unacceptable threat just next to our borders.”
“The danger was rising” he said, adding that “Russia has preemptively repulsed an aggression” in what he described as a “forced, timely and the only correct decision by a sovereign, powerful and independent country.”
The Russian leader again scolded the West for failing to heed Russian demands for security guarantees and a rollback to NATO’s expansion, arguing that it left Moscow no other choice but to launch an action in Ukraine.
___
BERLIN — The German government says Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate is one of many prominent buildings across Europe that will be illuminated Monday in the yellow and blue colors of the Ukrainian flag.
Government spokesman Wolfgang Buechner told reporters in Berlin that the decision to do so was taken some time ago and there was no link to a ban on flying Russian or Ukrainian flags near WWII memorials on May 8-9 imposed by police in the German capital. Police argued the ban was needed to prevent possible public unrest. Supporters of Ukraine and the country’s ambassador had strongly criticized that decision in light of Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
Buechner said projecting the Ukrainian flag onto the Brandenburg Gate was a “sign of solidarity” to show that the European Union is on the side of Ukraine.
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Credit: Evgeniy Maloletka
Credit: Evgeniy Maloletka
Credit: Felipe Dana
Credit: Felipe Dana
Credit: Evgeniy Maloletka
Credit: Evgeniy Maloletka
Credit: Felipe Dana
Credit: Felipe Dana
Credit: Evgeniy Maloletka
Credit: Evgeniy Maloletka
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Credit: Maciek Luczniewski
Credit: Maciek Luczniewski
Credit: Francisco Seco
Credit: Francisco Seco
Credit: Uncredited
Credit: Uncredited
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky
Credit: Efrem Lukatsky | 2022-05-09T21:07:00+00:00 | springfieldnewssun.com | https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/nation-world/live-updates-lithuania-fm-urges-regime-change-in-russia/MGECSA7P5RF37HD25G2XD4IPE4/ |
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